A story within a story.
A love story within a love story.
Essential Impact: God is love and from His love He redeems His people.
Recap the account of Ruth
The facts: The time of the judges [Ruth 1:1]
The Family of Elimelech
Ruth and Naomi
Heading home
Ruth works
Boaz meets Ruth
Boaz protects Ruth
Boaz provides for Ruth
Naomi instructs Ruth
The threshing floor
The opportunity for Boaz
The righteousness of Boaz
The love story of Ruth and Boaz
The family begins
The full effect of Boaz [Ruth 4.17]
THE KINS_MAN REDEEMER
This phrase is used throughout this book. It’s a key and critical concept
The words kinsman and/or redeemer are used approximately 30 times throughout the book. [Hebrew goel 13 times]. The simplest meaning of the word is ‘to buy back’ something that has been lost. How that thing got lost was not the issue. It can be property that is redeemed or people. In the account of Ruth and Naomi the person who is the redeemer is Boaz. He redeems, buys back, Naomi’s land and he redeems Ruth. [later he marries her and they have a son]
Our kins-man redeemer is Jesus Christ who fulfills the qualities/conditions that a redeemer must meet in order to redeem. First, they must be ‘related.’ That is to say Boaz must have been a blood relative in order to redeem what he did. Jesus Christ, who is fully God, took on Himself humanity, thereby being like us. Secondly, the kinsman redeemer must be able to redeem. Boaz had enough wealth to cover the cost of redeeming what he did. Jesus Christ must have been the sinless sacrifice in order to redeem us from our sin and the penalty that it brings. He who knew no sin became sin on our behalf. Finally, the redeemer must want to redeem. Boaz had the desire to redeem. For example the closer relative to Naomi and Ruth needed to be dealt with according to the ‘laws’ of redemption. Boaz had the desire and he redeemed. Jesus Christ is spoken of in many places in the New Testament as loving us and wanting His Father’s will for redemption. John 3:16-17 is a base line for this redemptive desire.
Application: we are in week one of the advent season. The theme is Hope…we have a hope of salvation in our kinsman redeemer, Jesus Christ. Will you today stop trusting in your own merits for your salvation and turn to God. Trusting Jesus Christ as the only one who can redeem you?
ORDINARY PEOPLE WITH ORDINARY PRAYERS
Deep and meaningful theology happens in the ordinary lives of Naomi, Ruth and Boaz. To be certain the death, famine and movement of God is supernatural in character but looking from the inside out. These people are doing what all people do everyday. They are living their lives as best they can. The conditions might be a bit extreme but they are not Kings and Queens, or Priests or Prophets. No one in this book has been called on by God to lead or judge or deliver the nation of Israel. We are, in many ways, just like them.
1.8-9 Naomi prays for God’s compassion; 1.20-21 The lament of coming home empty; 2.11-12 Boaz blesses and prays; 2.19-20 Naomi blesses Boaz; 3.10-11 Boaz blesses Ruth; 4.11-12 The elders pray for faithfulness; 4.14-15 The women bless Naomi and Ruth.
APPLICATION:
1. Advent theme of Hope = God who answers pray…ordinary people with ordinary prayers.
2. God is working in our everyday lives. In Jesus Christ we live and breath and have our being. By the presence of the Holy Spirit we are able to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord.
INCLUSION IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD
This component of the book is simple and amazing. Simply amazing.
1.1 the times of the Judges were often dark, terrible and a downward spiral into deeper apostasy. Two Israelites, Elimelech and Naomi take there family elsewhere for survival. Their sons marry foreign women. This was prohibited by God in the Mosaic Law. And yet because of Ruth’s turning to God, her commitment to Him exhibited through her confession of allegiance to Naomi she is brought into God’s kingdom. She is an outsider and yet God provides for her, He protects her and He goes so far as to see to it that she is grafted into the Messianic ‘blood’ line.
APPLICATION: The story of Boaz and Ruth is a love story of extraordinary worth. Up until this point we have seen a Holy [completely other] God, Creator, Ruler, King, sustainer, deliverer, Covenant maker, Covenant keeper demonstrate and bring a people unto Himself…He is the Law giver and the bondage breaker but here we see Him in a new light…He is a God who loves…Oh how He love you and me.
And we see this most strikingly in the book of Ruth through the lens of our kinsman redeemer.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
November 22nd, 2009..."One Year: Judges - A downward spiral"
Introduction: Joshua, Judges and Ruth all historically occur in the same general time period for the nation of Israel. Next week we will look at Ruth. Last week we considered Joshua and today we make our way through the book of Judges.
Judges as a whole stands in contrast to the book of Joshua. Joshua is a book that is vibrant and exciting. Judges is burdensome and a drudgery. In Joshua we experience the thrill of victory. In Judges there is the agony of defeat. In Joshua the people cry out, “We will serve the Lord.” In Judges the people are characterized with the infamous Biblical phrase, “Each man did what was right in his own eyes.”
Whereas Joshua was difficult to read and process because it is difficult to deal with the military conquest of the Canaanites and to see God as a Divine Warrior; it is equally difficult to read and process Judges because it is difficult to deal with the realistic absurdity of the obvious sin of the Israelites. We will be returning to this obvious absurdity in a few moments.
The book itself lays out a process of the life of the Israelites during a time when they weren’t ruled by any one particular group or person. They were in effect: leaderless. On the human plane that is. Their direct leader was to be God Almighty. The King and Ruler. He who has kept His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God of their forefathers. Remember this is the generation that came from the wilderness the unbelieving generation before them is dead and gone. These individuals have seen the Lord work to sustain them. He has provided for them and the major military campaigns have been won by His strong hand. The technical term for being led by God directly is theocracy. And yet these people seems to quickly disregard His rule and fall deeply into sin and rebellion. The major portion of the text shows us a vicious cycle where the judges come in order to deliver God’s people. There are 12 or 13 judges depending on how a person counts. Each Judge delivers Israel from “bondage” or an oppressive rule but I am getting ahead of the text itself.
The thing to note about Judges as we proceed is that this cycle isn’t a cycle on a level plain. It isn’t a straight plain cycle that simply repeats itself. But rather it is a downward spiral. Each successive cycle gets worse than the one before. The “best” judge is the first one. His name is Othniel. The “worst” judge is the last. His name is Samson.
ESSENTIAL IMPACT:God, the Creator/King, is faithful
...but do not trivialize that fact.
Main 1: Trusting God is its own reward.
In Chapter 1 and 2 The people have a small amount of success but there is far more failure that is evident. We can’t say that it crept in. It is apparent from the text that the Israelite were almost at once willfully rebellious.
The success is for Judah. That tribe inquired of the Lord and obeyed and they had success. The other tribes failed in their attempts to drive out the Canaanites. Well actually lets look a bit more closely at what the text records. 1.21,27,29,30,31,33 They did not drive out the Canaanites. It wasn’t as if they lost military campaigns. They didn’t even try. Look. They didn’t even try. And so we read the opening of chapter 2 with this funny taste in our mouths. READ 2.1-5 and 11. Failure and Idolatry.
Main 2: God does not forsake His people
Chapters 3-16 record for us the deliverance of the judges and gives details about the cycles of failure and deliverance.
Read 3.5-11: This is the cycle of the Judge Othniel. He is the best Judge the book has to offer. The cycle goes as follows:
Sin Rebellion
Servitude Retribution
Supplication Repentance
Salvation Restoration
Serenity Rest
Main 3: God doesn’t hide our depravity
Chapters 17-21 Are catalogs of how deeply flawed we as humans are. In 17-18 there are examples of religious apostasy. The setting up of worship outside of the ordination of God’s declared word. There are two examples. The first is personal apostasy through the idolatry of Micah and a Levite. Chapter 18 has the same kind of thing recorded but the scale is much larger an entire tribe is shown to be idolatrous.
In chapters 19-21 the reading isn’t for the faint of heart. There is an utter breakdown in the social and moral fiber. Once again there is personal and tribal failure to an unmistakable degree.
APPLICATION:
1. Be on guard against a callousness toward sin. When we read this book it is soooo obvious what the issues and problems are. Why couldn’t they see it? Why didn’t they do anything about it? Why didn’t someone, anyone speak up and say, “Wait, this is wrong.” Before we rush to judgment…step back and ask yourself, “How would the book read about me?” Are you sensitive enough to the sin in your own life that is leading to idolatry? That is in open rebellion towards God. Ok if you survive that without any conviction of sin and you are asking, “Why hasn’t someone said anything before?” I would argue that He has. Just as He had already declared to the Israelites He has declared to us His exact expectations. We are the ones who have neglected His word and Him. The blame needs to be placed squarely upon our shoulder.
2. Observe and heed the cycle: Are you saved? Do you know Jesus Christ as your savior? Are you following Him? It isn’t about a denomination it is about the relationship you have with God.
Sin
Servitude
Supplication
Salvation
Serenity
Judges as a whole stands in contrast to the book of Joshua. Joshua is a book that is vibrant and exciting. Judges is burdensome and a drudgery. In Joshua we experience the thrill of victory. In Judges there is the agony of defeat. In Joshua the people cry out, “We will serve the Lord.” In Judges the people are characterized with the infamous Biblical phrase, “Each man did what was right in his own eyes.”
Whereas Joshua was difficult to read and process because it is difficult to deal with the military conquest of the Canaanites and to see God as a Divine Warrior; it is equally difficult to read and process Judges because it is difficult to deal with the realistic absurdity of the obvious sin of the Israelites. We will be returning to this obvious absurdity in a few moments.
The book itself lays out a process of the life of the Israelites during a time when they weren’t ruled by any one particular group or person. They were in effect: leaderless. On the human plane that is. Their direct leader was to be God Almighty. The King and Ruler. He who has kept His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The God of their forefathers. Remember this is the generation that came from the wilderness the unbelieving generation before them is dead and gone. These individuals have seen the Lord work to sustain them. He has provided for them and the major military campaigns have been won by His strong hand. The technical term for being led by God directly is theocracy. And yet these people seems to quickly disregard His rule and fall deeply into sin and rebellion. The major portion of the text shows us a vicious cycle where the judges come in order to deliver God’s people. There are 12 or 13 judges depending on how a person counts. Each Judge delivers Israel from “bondage” or an oppressive rule but I am getting ahead of the text itself.
The thing to note about Judges as we proceed is that this cycle isn’t a cycle on a level plain. It isn’t a straight plain cycle that simply repeats itself. But rather it is a downward spiral. Each successive cycle gets worse than the one before. The “best” judge is the first one. His name is Othniel. The “worst” judge is the last. His name is Samson.
ESSENTIAL IMPACT:God, the Creator/King, is faithful
...but do not trivialize that fact.
Main 1: Trusting God is its own reward.
In Chapter 1 and 2 The people have a small amount of success but there is far more failure that is evident. We can’t say that it crept in. It is apparent from the text that the Israelite were almost at once willfully rebellious.
The success is for Judah. That tribe inquired of the Lord and obeyed and they had success. The other tribes failed in their attempts to drive out the Canaanites. Well actually lets look a bit more closely at what the text records. 1.21,27,29,30,31,33 They did not drive out the Canaanites. It wasn’t as if they lost military campaigns. They didn’t even try. Look. They didn’t even try. And so we read the opening of chapter 2 with this funny taste in our mouths. READ 2.1-5 and 11. Failure and Idolatry.
Main 2: God does not forsake His people
Chapters 3-16 record for us the deliverance of the judges and gives details about the cycles of failure and deliverance.
Read 3.5-11: This is the cycle of the Judge Othniel. He is the best Judge the book has to offer. The cycle goes as follows:
Sin Rebellion
Servitude Retribution
Supplication Repentance
Salvation Restoration
Serenity Rest
Main 3: God doesn’t hide our depravity
Chapters 17-21 Are catalogs of how deeply flawed we as humans are. In 17-18 there are examples of religious apostasy. The setting up of worship outside of the ordination of God’s declared word. There are two examples. The first is personal apostasy through the idolatry of Micah and a Levite. Chapter 18 has the same kind of thing recorded but the scale is much larger an entire tribe is shown to be idolatrous.
In chapters 19-21 the reading isn’t for the faint of heart. There is an utter breakdown in the social and moral fiber. Once again there is personal and tribal failure to an unmistakable degree.
APPLICATION:
1. Be on guard against a callousness toward sin. When we read this book it is soooo obvious what the issues and problems are. Why couldn’t they see it? Why didn’t they do anything about it? Why didn’t someone, anyone speak up and say, “Wait, this is wrong.” Before we rush to judgment…step back and ask yourself, “How would the book read about me?” Are you sensitive enough to the sin in your own life that is leading to idolatry? That is in open rebellion towards God. Ok if you survive that without any conviction of sin and you are asking, “Why hasn’t someone said anything before?” I would argue that He has. Just as He had already declared to the Israelites He has declared to us His exact expectations. We are the ones who have neglected His word and Him. The blame needs to be placed squarely upon our shoulder.
2. Observe and heed the cycle: Are you saved? Do you know Jesus Christ as your savior? Are you following Him? It isn’t about a denomination it is about the relationship you have with God.
Sin
Servitude
Supplication
Salvation
Serenity
Monday, November 2, 2009
November 1st, 2009..."One Year:Numbers - Generations"
Introduction:
In our study through the Bible in a year we come to the book of Numbers. A book that appears at the outset to be a little bit incoherent. It doesn’t seem to have a unifying theme like Leviticus or Galatians. It doesn’t seem to have a central figure(s) like Genesis or Joshua. But we should not lose heart. There is hope if we remember the larger picture.
The Bible, as a whole, is about God and His Kingdom. The creation, establishment and continuance of His Kingdom is there from start to finish. As King of this Kingdom He alone is worthy of glory. We took the past two weeks to consider the book of Leviticus that is fully established in the complete “otherness” of God…His holiness. The book of Levitcus occurs in the history of the nation of Israel in a period of time a little over a month. The book of Numbers occurs in the history of the nation of Israel in a period of time a little over 40 years.
Number can be divided into three main sections. Chapters 1-10 marks the Old Generation. Chapter 10-25 marks the transition of Generation. and Chapter 26-36 marks the New Generation. In each of these portions we see how painstakingly God prepares His people to actually be His people. It’s a book that isn’t just “theory” about being God’s people but it is the nuts and bolts, so to speak.
A word about the two censuses recorded. I know very few people who enjoy reading the list of names and numbers recorded in the book of Numbers. Most people I know find them tedious at best and absolutely boring at the worst. Imagine, God’s Word boring? I hope that in the next few minutes we spend together we will begin to get a deeper appreciation for the God who deemed these lists important enough to inspire them into existence.
Main #1: God sets things in order.
The first ten chapter of Numbers show us part of the effort that God makes to set things in there proper place so that our relationship with Him would be healthy and right and good. He has Moses number the men who are able to fight in war. Remember that soon they will be entering the Promised Land and the people that live there are not just going to hand over the keys. It makes perfect sense to record a military census at this point.
God organizes the camp around the tent of meeting. Every tribe and person has their place in relationship to meeting with God Himself. Even those who are without their own land, the Levitical Priests are rightly related to Him in time and space. There is even a chapter or two dedicated to those who are unclean because of sin and how they are to relate to God and to the rest of the nation/camp. God goes to great lengths to tell His people how they must relate to Him.
In Numbers there is a link between Eden and the Promised Land. God places Adam in the garden and now He has promised and prepared a land for His people. The Promise/Covenant begins to gain substance. And we see a strong connection to God in the blessing that Aaron is to pronounce upon the people in Numbers 6.24-26. Then in Number 6.27 the name of God is to rest upon His people. There is an all together “new” relationship that is being forged here in the Kingdom of God. Recall the Commandment not to take the Lord’s name in vain.
Then it is time to move. Numbers 10.35-36 Moses words echo throughout history in this fine example of obedience of the Israelites. They would be wanderers but to my knowledge and reading of Numbers I haven’t come across a passage where when God moved or rested they disobeyed. It might be there. I may have overlooked it but it appears to me that they were faithful in this command.
Main #2: Learn the lesson of causing trouble. [Israel’s faithlessness]
As they head out to begin the conquest of the Holy Land. Everything is set in order. When the Lord’s presence moves they move. When He is still they are still. And so the cloud of His presence moves and they head out. Only, to fall flat on their faces. Almost immediately they begin to complain and murmur about their everyday lives. Food and Water and Leadership complaints come forth from them before they even get to the corner. Illustration: Road trip with the family…I forgot my [fill in the blank]
God in His grace and mercy provided, God’s faithfulness, for them at every turn and at the brink of the Holy Land they send in 12 spies to check things out. A little recon is in order. The spies check it out and come back and give report. The vote is ten to two against going into the Land. The same people who watched God provide for them everyday. Water from rocks thought that they couldn’t trust God to overcome the people of the Land. [1 Corinthians 10.1ff…1 Corinthians 11 = Communion] All except Caleb and Joshua. These two said, “With God nothing is impossible.” The people rebel and go with the larger report and God is not pleased. HE determines that not a single person from that generation of unbelief will be allowed into the Promised Land and so the nation of Israel wanders in the desert for 40 years. Not really learning their lesson…there is no second chance for these people. They had their chance and they wasted it in unbelief. Joshua and Caleb they were the only ones left alive after 40 years and they took the next generation into the Promised Land.
Main #3: Accept God’s new beginnings.
When they Old generation was dead the next generation needed a recommissioning of sorts (a reorganization is better). They were renumbered. The census was again taken. For the same reason the first one was taken. The regulations of life and offerings were reiterated to this new generation. And they were told exactly what they needed to do to take the land and how to live in it. You see God hadn’t changed. In the thousand of years since God hasn’t changed. He revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to the people of Israel. He reveals Himself to us in the person of Christ and that doesn’t negate all that He shows of Himself in the Hebrew Scripture for Christ did not come to abolish the Law but rather to fulfill it.
The bronze serpent connection to Christ from Numbers 21.9 to John 3.14-15. As a historical type of “salvation” when the serpent was lifted up and the men and women of Israel looked to it they were saved from their poisonous snake bite. When men and women look to the cross in faith they are saved because Jesus completed the work of salvation upon the cross. By His death and resurrection we can have out sin forgiven.
APPLICATION:
1. Two sets: generation [1-14 & 26-36]; numberings [1 & 26]; travels [10-14 & 21-27]; instructions [5-9 & 28-36] illustrating both the kindness and severity of God.
2. We follow God in trust and dependence.
3. Looking unto Jesus: for salvation = John 12.32 ff.
4. Looking unto Jesus: for our walk = Hebrews 12.1-2
In our study through the Bible in a year we come to the book of Numbers. A book that appears at the outset to be a little bit incoherent. It doesn’t seem to have a unifying theme like Leviticus or Galatians. It doesn’t seem to have a central figure(s) like Genesis or Joshua. But we should not lose heart. There is hope if we remember the larger picture.
The Bible, as a whole, is about God and His Kingdom. The creation, establishment and continuance of His Kingdom is there from start to finish. As King of this Kingdom He alone is worthy of glory. We took the past two weeks to consider the book of Leviticus that is fully established in the complete “otherness” of God…His holiness. The book of Levitcus occurs in the history of the nation of Israel in a period of time a little over a month. The book of Numbers occurs in the history of the nation of Israel in a period of time a little over 40 years.
Number can be divided into three main sections. Chapters 1-10 marks the Old Generation. Chapter 10-25 marks the transition of Generation. and Chapter 26-36 marks the New Generation. In each of these portions we see how painstakingly God prepares His people to actually be His people. It’s a book that isn’t just “theory” about being God’s people but it is the nuts and bolts, so to speak.
A word about the two censuses recorded. I know very few people who enjoy reading the list of names and numbers recorded in the book of Numbers. Most people I know find them tedious at best and absolutely boring at the worst. Imagine, God’s Word boring? I hope that in the next few minutes we spend together we will begin to get a deeper appreciation for the God who deemed these lists important enough to inspire them into existence.
Main #1: God sets things in order.
The first ten chapter of Numbers show us part of the effort that God makes to set things in there proper place so that our relationship with Him would be healthy and right and good. He has Moses number the men who are able to fight in war. Remember that soon they will be entering the Promised Land and the people that live there are not just going to hand over the keys. It makes perfect sense to record a military census at this point.
God organizes the camp around the tent of meeting. Every tribe and person has their place in relationship to meeting with God Himself. Even those who are without their own land, the Levitical Priests are rightly related to Him in time and space. There is even a chapter or two dedicated to those who are unclean because of sin and how they are to relate to God and to the rest of the nation/camp. God goes to great lengths to tell His people how they must relate to Him.
In Numbers there is a link between Eden and the Promised Land. God places Adam in the garden and now He has promised and prepared a land for His people. The Promise/Covenant begins to gain substance. And we see a strong connection to God in the blessing that Aaron is to pronounce upon the people in Numbers 6.24-26. Then in Number 6.27 the name of God is to rest upon His people. There is an all together “new” relationship that is being forged here in the Kingdom of God. Recall the Commandment not to take the Lord’s name in vain.
Then it is time to move. Numbers 10.35-36 Moses words echo throughout history in this fine example of obedience of the Israelites. They would be wanderers but to my knowledge and reading of Numbers I haven’t come across a passage where when God moved or rested they disobeyed. It might be there. I may have overlooked it but it appears to me that they were faithful in this command.
Main #2: Learn the lesson of causing trouble. [Israel’s faithlessness]
As they head out to begin the conquest of the Holy Land. Everything is set in order. When the Lord’s presence moves they move. When He is still they are still. And so the cloud of His presence moves and they head out. Only, to fall flat on their faces. Almost immediately they begin to complain and murmur about their everyday lives. Food and Water and Leadership complaints come forth from them before they even get to the corner. Illustration: Road trip with the family…I forgot my [fill in the blank]
God in His grace and mercy provided, God’s faithfulness, for them at every turn and at the brink of the Holy Land they send in 12 spies to check things out. A little recon is in order. The spies check it out and come back and give report. The vote is ten to two against going into the Land. The same people who watched God provide for them everyday. Water from rocks thought that they couldn’t trust God to overcome the people of the Land. [1 Corinthians 10.1ff…1 Corinthians 11 = Communion] All except Caleb and Joshua. These two said, “With God nothing is impossible.” The people rebel and go with the larger report and God is not pleased. HE determines that not a single person from that generation of unbelief will be allowed into the Promised Land and so the nation of Israel wanders in the desert for 40 years. Not really learning their lesson…there is no second chance for these people. They had their chance and they wasted it in unbelief. Joshua and Caleb they were the only ones left alive after 40 years and they took the next generation into the Promised Land.
Main #3: Accept God’s new beginnings.
When they Old generation was dead the next generation needed a recommissioning of sorts (a reorganization is better). They were renumbered. The census was again taken. For the same reason the first one was taken. The regulations of life and offerings were reiterated to this new generation. And they were told exactly what they needed to do to take the land and how to live in it. You see God hadn’t changed. In the thousand of years since God hasn’t changed. He revealed Himself to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and to the people of Israel. He reveals Himself to us in the person of Christ and that doesn’t negate all that He shows of Himself in the Hebrew Scripture for Christ did not come to abolish the Law but rather to fulfill it.
The bronze serpent connection to Christ from Numbers 21.9 to John 3.14-15. As a historical type of “salvation” when the serpent was lifted up and the men and women of Israel looked to it they were saved from their poisonous snake bite. When men and women look to the cross in faith they are saved because Jesus completed the work of salvation upon the cross. By His death and resurrection we can have out sin forgiven.
APPLICATION:
1. Two sets: generation [1-14 & 26-36]; numberings [1 & 26]; travels [10-14 & 21-27]; instructions [5-9 & 28-36] illustrating both the kindness and severity of God.
2. We follow God in trust and dependence.
3. Looking unto Jesus: for salvation = John 12.32 ff.
4. Looking unto Jesus: for our walk = Hebrews 12.1-2
Thursday, October 29, 2009
October 25th, 2009...One Year: Exodus - Sanctification
I have waited to post until late in the week because I have tried to reconstruct the message from last week Sunday. Let me explain.
During the week I start early to do work in the actual text of Scripture...usually some Monday and most of Tuesday. Wednesday is devoted to other lessons and such. Thursday I usually hit the transfer from text to sermon. Last Thursday was unique because nothing happened. I sat and stared at paper most of the day. Friday came and went and still no sermon. I pretty much got sick to my stomach and thought ok...what's going on. Saturday passed and I got sicker. It is very unlike me to step in the pulpit without a reduced sermon text biut Sunday morning came and I had my text work notes and that was it. So I openend my mouth and the sermon came out.
I trust it goes without saying but here I am saying it...I called upon the Lord much from Thursday through Sunday...and was trusting Him as best I knew how. I have no idea what most people thought of the message. I did recieve some feedback and was grateful for it.
As I have tried to reconstruct what was said I can't. I could post my text notes but that probably wouldn't make sense. So I am going to leave this entry blank.
The long and short of it is that as we follow Christ our lives are characterized by a continual and consistent separation unto God in all areas and aspects of life. This is the way the King intended His citizens to be and it flows from His complete 'otherness.'
During the week I start early to do work in the actual text of Scripture...usually some Monday and most of Tuesday. Wednesday is devoted to other lessons and such. Thursday I usually hit the transfer from text to sermon. Last Thursday was unique because nothing happened. I sat and stared at paper most of the day. Friday came and went and still no sermon. I pretty much got sick to my stomach and thought ok...what's going on. Saturday passed and I got sicker. It is very unlike me to step in the pulpit without a reduced sermon text biut Sunday morning came and I had my text work notes and that was it. So I openend my mouth and the sermon came out.
I trust it goes without saying but here I am saying it...I called upon the Lord much from Thursday through Sunday...and was trusting Him as best I knew how. I have no idea what most people thought of the message. I did recieve some feedback and was grateful for it.
As I have tried to reconstruct what was said I can't. I could post my text notes but that probably wouldn't make sense. So I am going to leave this entry blank.
The long and short of it is that as we follow Christ our lives are characterized by a continual and consistent separation unto God in all areas and aspects of life. This is the way the King intended His citizens to be and it flows from His complete 'otherness.'
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
October 18th, 2009..."One Year: Leviticus - Sacrifice"
Introduction: Sometimes we slip into a comfortable place and begin, unfortunately, to take certain things for granted. The use of our vehicles, a working furnace a friend who is always willing to lend a hand. Many things and people in our lives can fall inadvertently into this category. Sometimes we even become complacent when it comes to our relationship with the Lord. We take Him for granted and forget just how awesome, how holy He is. Holiness has a basic meaning of ‘separate from’ or ‘other’.
Essential Impact: God’s ‘otherness’ demands our ‘careful’ consideration.
Because God is holy and has revealed Himself to us, Creator, Ruler, Initiator, Covenant Maker, He has every right to declare to us the conditions of our approaching Him in the relationship we have with Him. Not in some malicious series of hoops that we must jump through but because He is completely unlike anyone / anything we have ever encountered.
We can divide the book of Leviticus in two parts that help us to further understand our relationship with God, this holy = completely ‘other’ God. The first half, chapters 1-17 we will consider this morning and chapter 18-27 will be next time.
The first 17 chapters show us the way to approach God.
You may recall that when Moses approached the burning bush in Genesis the voice of God came to Moses and said, “Take off your shoes for the ground upon which you are standing is holy.” God prescribes for us the way to approach Him. We see three pieces to that approach through Leviticus.
1. The approach to God must be made by / with sacrificial offerings.
2. The approach is mediated by the Priest.
3. The approach can only be made after purification.
As you read Leviticus you probably have had the experience of getting bogged down very quickly in the details of the sacrifices and the kinds of animals and what to do with the fat portion and so on and so forth. All of those details serve, in one sense, as a reminder the entire time of the seriousness of the approach to God who is holy.
1. The approach to God must be made by / with sacrificial offerings. [Chapters 1-7]
1a. As these sacrificial offerings are listed and explained we do well to relate them to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is a savior who not only died for our sins but His sacrifice fulfilled the requirement of the Levitical Laws that governed the approach to God.
i. the burnt offering of Leviticus One demonstrates / symbolizes Christ’s total submission to His Father’s will.
ii. the meal offering of Leviticus Two relates to Christ’s sinless service
iii. the peace offering of Leviticus Three brings the believer into fellowship with God through Christ’s cross.
iv. the sin offering of Leviticus Four typifies Christ as our guilt bearer.
v. the trespass offering of Leviticus Five links for us an understanding of Christ’s payment for sin…our sins.
2. The approach is mediated by the Priest. [Chapter 8-10]
The meaning of “mediation.” Illustration from Peace makers Ministry. A third party that brings warring factions to the table for reconciliation and restoration of relationship.
In chapter 8 the priest…Aaron and the Levites chosen…are consecrated in order to perform the duties that they have before the Lord on behalf of the people. They are anointed, their hands are filled and they are consecrated with blood. This sets them apart for their work. In a sense they are ordained for ministry. In chapter 9 they must be made clean before they can serve before the Lord. As they serve as mediators between God and man they must make sacrifice for themselves. Moses gives them instruction and three times the chapter records that the Lord would appear to them…4, 6, 23. In chapter 10 there is a vivid illustration of how not to approach God with the two sons of Aaron, priests who were consecrated and set apart for ministry before the Lord brought “strange fire” and they were struck dead by God. Disobedience and departure from the directly prescribed revealed way of approach to God had catastrophic results.
Christ is our mediator and our high priest. Hebrews 3.1; 7.27; 8.6; 9.15; 10.5-22; Ephesians 2.13-18; 1 Timothy 2.5.
3. The approach can only be made after purification. [Chapter 11-17]
But what about all the people? How can they approach God? They too must be pure…and their purity comes in diverse laws and codes. The Laws of Leviticus 11-15 deal with issues of diet, issues of blood, issues of disease, and issues of bodily function. Hardly any of which have what we would consider “moral” outcomes. They occur as the normal course of live transpires. And as such we become “unclean” before God because of them. That is why there is the Levitical Law governing how to become “clean” again. However, that does not negate or absolve us from the “moral” commands of God. We too violate those aspects of approach to God and also must be cleansed. Thus, chapter 16 and 17 outline for us the most special day of the Jewish calendar. The Day of Atonemanet. YOM KIPPUR…September 28th 2009. The day the high priest went into the Holy of Holies and sacrificed before the Lord for the sins of the people.
Jesus Christ is our high priest and sacrificed the perfect sacrifice for sin on the cross. Hebrews 9.8-14.
APPLICATION: In our approaching God…
OFFERINGS: a. religious offering by way of ritual and or tradition amongst themselves are not appropriate nor adequate to approach a holy God. Tradition, regardless of it’s source, where it comes from, no matter where it is found…communion, hymnody, baptism, alter calls, Free Church congregationalism…do not make us acceptable before God in order to approach Him in worship. The Jews had their Levitical Laws and they could approach…believers have Jesus and are free to approach Him.
MEDIATION: Chapter 10 shows us the danger of approaching God on our own term and in our own merits. Disastrous results. Nabab and Abihu… Acts chapter 5 where Anninias and Saphira die because they lie to the Holy Spirit about their offerings.
1. My tithes make me acceptable because I’m obedient. Tithes and obedience are not mediators
2. I sing this type of music because it is so meaningful. Music is not a mediator.
3. I serve in the church as a Sunday School teacher, board member, choir director, host family, etc. Serving is not a mediator.
4. NO church “thing” is a mediator.
If we mix any thing with the sacrifice of Christ we are bringing strange fire before the Lord. And we should repent while we still can. Recall the warnings to the churches of Revelation where Christ warns them to repent of their sins unless He remove their lampstand.
PURITY:
Coming to Christ for salvation. Illustration of going to court where you are charged with a crime and you get all cleaned up and put on your best clothes to go before the judge. Coming to Christ is not like that in the particular aspect of getting cleaned up and wearing the best clothes. We come before the Lord with our sin and, through Jesus’ completed work on the cross, God forgives our sin as we trust in Christ. Let me ask it this way, “Do you have to get cleaned up to take a bath?”
Psalm 66.18-19 = Purity in prayer
~It isn’t about any of our ‘stuff.’ Any denominational distinctive, traditions, nor works allows us to approach Almighty God. It is about our relationship with Jesus…because Calvary covers it all.
Essential Impact: God’s ‘otherness’ demands our ‘careful’ consideration.
Because God is holy and has revealed Himself to us, Creator, Ruler, Initiator, Covenant Maker, He has every right to declare to us the conditions of our approaching Him in the relationship we have with Him. Not in some malicious series of hoops that we must jump through but because He is completely unlike anyone / anything we have ever encountered.
We can divide the book of Leviticus in two parts that help us to further understand our relationship with God, this holy = completely ‘other’ God. The first half, chapters 1-17 we will consider this morning and chapter 18-27 will be next time.
The first 17 chapters show us the way to approach God.
You may recall that when Moses approached the burning bush in Genesis the voice of God came to Moses and said, “Take off your shoes for the ground upon which you are standing is holy.” God prescribes for us the way to approach Him. We see three pieces to that approach through Leviticus.
1. The approach to God must be made by / with sacrificial offerings.
2. The approach is mediated by the Priest.
3. The approach can only be made after purification.
As you read Leviticus you probably have had the experience of getting bogged down very quickly in the details of the sacrifices and the kinds of animals and what to do with the fat portion and so on and so forth. All of those details serve, in one sense, as a reminder the entire time of the seriousness of the approach to God who is holy.
1. The approach to God must be made by / with sacrificial offerings. [Chapters 1-7]
1a. As these sacrificial offerings are listed and explained we do well to relate them to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. He is a savior who not only died for our sins but His sacrifice fulfilled the requirement of the Levitical Laws that governed the approach to God.
i. the burnt offering of Leviticus One demonstrates / symbolizes Christ’s total submission to His Father’s will.
ii. the meal offering of Leviticus Two relates to Christ’s sinless service
iii. the peace offering of Leviticus Three brings the believer into fellowship with God through Christ’s cross.
iv. the sin offering of Leviticus Four typifies Christ as our guilt bearer.
v. the trespass offering of Leviticus Five links for us an understanding of Christ’s payment for sin…our sins.
2. The approach is mediated by the Priest. [Chapter 8-10]
The meaning of “mediation.” Illustration from Peace makers Ministry. A third party that brings warring factions to the table for reconciliation and restoration of relationship.
In chapter 8 the priest…Aaron and the Levites chosen…are consecrated in order to perform the duties that they have before the Lord on behalf of the people. They are anointed, their hands are filled and they are consecrated with blood. This sets them apart for their work. In a sense they are ordained for ministry. In chapter 9 they must be made clean before they can serve before the Lord. As they serve as mediators between God and man they must make sacrifice for themselves. Moses gives them instruction and three times the chapter records that the Lord would appear to them…4, 6, 23. In chapter 10 there is a vivid illustration of how not to approach God with the two sons of Aaron, priests who were consecrated and set apart for ministry before the Lord brought “strange fire” and they were struck dead by God. Disobedience and departure from the directly prescribed revealed way of approach to God had catastrophic results.
Christ is our mediator and our high priest. Hebrews 3.1; 7.27; 8.6; 9.15; 10.5-22; Ephesians 2.13-18; 1 Timothy 2.5.
3. The approach can only be made after purification. [Chapter 11-17]
But what about all the people? How can they approach God? They too must be pure…and their purity comes in diverse laws and codes. The Laws of Leviticus 11-15 deal with issues of diet, issues of blood, issues of disease, and issues of bodily function. Hardly any of which have what we would consider “moral” outcomes. They occur as the normal course of live transpires. And as such we become “unclean” before God because of them. That is why there is the Levitical Law governing how to become “clean” again. However, that does not negate or absolve us from the “moral” commands of God. We too violate those aspects of approach to God and also must be cleansed. Thus, chapter 16 and 17 outline for us the most special day of the Jewish calendar. The Day of Atonemanet. YOM KIPPUR…September 28th 2009. The day the high priest went into the Holy of Holies and sacrificed before the Lord for the sins of the people.
Jesus Christ is our high priest and sacrificed the perfect sacrifice for sin on the cross. Hebrews 9.8-14.
APPLICATION: In our approaching God…
OFFERINGS: a. religious offering by way of ritual and or tradition amongst themselves are not appropriate nor adequate to approach a holy God. Tradition, regardless of it’s source, where it comes from, no matter where it is found…communion, hymnody, baptism, alter calls, Free Church congregationalism…do not make us acceptable before God in order to approach Him in worship. The Jews had their Levitical Laws and they could approach…believers have Jesus and are free to approach Him.
MEDIATION: Chapter 10 shows us the danger of approaching God on our own term and in our own merits. Disastrous results. Nabab and Abihu… Acts chapter 5 where Anninias and Saphira die because they lie to the Holy Spirit about their offerings.
1. My tithes make me acceptable because I’m obedient. Tithes and obedience are not mediators
2. I sing this type of music because it is so meaningful. Music is not a mediator.
3. I serve in the church as a Sunday School teacher, board member, choir director, host family, etc. Serving is not a mediator.
4. NO church “thing” is a mediator.
If we mix any thing with the sacrifice of Christ we are bringing strange fire before the Lord. And we should repent while we still can. Recall the warnings to the churches of Revelation where Christ warns them to repent of their sins unless He remove their lampstand.
PURITY:
Coming to Christ for salvation. Illustration of going to court where you are charged with a crime and you get all cleaned up and put on your best clothes to go before the judge. Coming to Christ is not like that in the particular aspect of getting cleaned up and wearing the best clothes. We come before the Lord with our sin and, through Jesus’ completed work on the cross, God forgives our sin as we trust in Christ. Let me ask it this way, “Do you have to get cleaned up to take a bath?”
Psalm 66.18-19 = Purity in prayer
~It isn’t about any of our ‘stuff.’ Any denominational distinctive, traditions, nor works allows us to approach Almighty God. It is about our relationship with Jesus…because Calvary covers it all.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October 11th, 2009...One Year: The Exodus and The Law
Introduction: Do you know anyone who is dedicated and loyal almost to a fault? Think of people you know who are like that. A good example may be the men and women of our military, as a whole. Or policemen or firefighters…to serve and protect. All of these individuals train and practice and serve each day in order to achieve a goal. Different goals to be certain but each is committed beyond what we might consider “normal.” They go to extremes, sometimes even laying down their own lives to fulfill [achieve] their goals.
Essential Impact: God goes to extreme lengths to create / produce / cause to exist, for Himself a people through which His promise to Abraham will be fulfilled.
Scripture records this extreme type of work that God does. Exodus is completely dedicated to it…and we see it in the first half when God moves His people out of Egypt in chapters 1 through 18...
Main 1: Appreciate what it means to be redeemed
…and in the process, of redeeming, God shows us three aspects of His being, 3 characteristics…
I. Guidance:
a. their increase: in Exodus 1.7 reminds us what was said to Abraham in Genesis 12.1-3 and the promise of the descendants is being fulfilled…
but they find out that things aren’t always roses because of their numbers the Egyptians become afraid of them and so they are enslaved but even in their slavery God continues to fulfill His promise and they continue to increase even when things are made harder at work. And so finally the Pharaoh has a plan to stop this population growth…He plans their limited extermination by declaring all Hebrew males must be destroyed at birth. But we must recall all of Genesis 12.1-3 ‘Curse those who curse you’…ooops Pharaoh…
if all males die then there will be no nation
if all males die the Messiah will not be born
…Ooops Pharaoh has a problem because now he has placed himself in the “curse Israel” category and God speaks Exodus 4.21-23.
b. Eventually Israel calls on God for deliverance from the fairly oppressive hand of Pharaoh. God hears their cry and God calls on Moses. [Illustration: You call 911 = dispatch for help…dispatch calls County EMS = rescue] During the Divine commissioning, so to speak, God reveals to Moses a personal, significant detail about who He is…when Moses asks whom shall I say sent me…God replies, “Tell them ‘I am’ sent you.”
II. Deliverance:
c. The plagues come and the people are set free…redeemed. Moses is given the job of going to Pharaoh to secure the release of the Jews so that they may worship God freely. You have seen and have read and know the progress of the ten plagues that come upon Israel. The “wise men/magicians” of Egypt recognize God after the first few but Pharaoh continues upon the path of being an enemy of Israel and therefore an enemy of God. And so finally God moves to deliver His people through an incredible act of judgment upon Pharaoh’s house…* Passover * And the people are set free.
III. Preservation / Protection:
d. While they are leaving Egypt and in the wilderness God moves in many ways to preserve them and to protect them…some of the high points are…
1. from Egyptian military [chapter 14]
2. from thirst [chapter 15]
3. from hunger [chapter 16]
4. from defeat [chapter 17]
Before we move on to the second half of Exodus we need to pause and look a bit more closely at the idea of redemption and how this theme winds its way through the entire Bible…after all this is a sermon series on the entire Bible and we will meet redemption again and again.
Main 2: Redemption through the Bible
In today’s Christian culture the term redemption has come to be equated with God’s plan and work of salvation but Biblically speaking it is only one aspect of the whole plan and work of salvation. The idea / process of redemption involve the release of people and / or things from bondage / tyranny / oppression with the necessity of an outside agent / source. This is commonly achieved by a financial interaction. [Illustration: redeem your prize] Redemption cannot be achieved under one’s own auspices. “God helps those who help themselves”…not when it comes to redemption. [Illustration: Scene from Star Wars where Padmay, Annikan, and Obewan are prisoners in the gladiator ring and about to be devoured by monsters. They do pretty well in fighting the monsters but then as the other Jedi arrive to rescue them all the Jedi are in trouble and about to be destroyed but at the last second Yoda arrives with the clone army…the outside source of rescue.]
Exodus is the paradigm of redemption as to the work of God. First, God intervenes to free slaves from under Pharaoh who holds them against their will. Second, He breaks the cruel oppressive grip of Pharaoh upon Israel not by a monetary repayment but simply by force. Finally, God acts because of His prior relationship with Israel, “The God of your ancestors Exodus 3.6, 15-16. This role of God is echoed through the Psalms 19.14, 78.35. Isaiah and the Prophets use this picture repeatedly for the exiles and those Israelites who are judged of God.
Redemption can also simply mean to rescue from danger / death. And in Scripture not only does God do this: 2 Samuel 4.9, Job 5.20, Psalm 103.4, 25.22, 31.5, Lamentation 3.58 but friends may also “redeem” from danger as rescuers; 1 Samuel 14.45 and Job 6.23.
Before we turn to redemption in the NT there is one more thing to consider about redemption in the OT. Although limited in references there is the idea that redemption is also from sin. Psalm 130.7-8 have the most far reaching example but Isaiah 44.22-23 and 59.20 support this aspect of redemption as well.
In the NT the Gospels are quite sparse with reference to redemption although Mark 10.45 ransom is directly related to financial redemption Luke is the only other Gospel writer to use the idea of redemption. [Luke 1.68, 2.38, 24.21] Redemption is, on the other hand, prominent in Paul’s writings. Galatians 3.13 and 4.5 are particularly strong in this regard. See also 1 Corinthians 6.20 and 7.22. A final note comes from Revelation 5.8-9 and 14.3-4 where these two songs incorporate redemption as part of the praise of God.
Returning now to the Exodus and the way in which God goes to extreme lengths…
Main 3: Develop in your relationship with God as He reveals Himself through the Covenant Law
a. Why God gave the Covenant [19.3-6] 3 Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
b. The Big Ten plus other regulations
c. God is revealed [24.9-11] 9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.
d. Where to meet with God [Tabernacle]
e. a rough start where the people don’t do it
f. a better progress
*** g. God fills the Tabernacle 40.34-38
APPLICATION:
1. The extreme length of revealing Himself personally. Believers are God’s children…when He tells Moses His name, YHWH, He is revealing something personal about Himself. There is much to His name but one thing is for certain, there is an implication that we know God personally. Do you know Him personally. Do you relate to God in a personal way? Talking with Him, finding out about Him, listening to Him…
2. God’s promise to Abraham…curse those who curse you…Pharaoh puts himself in that position. The permanence of this promise can be watched from a believers perspective in History and in Modern Times.
3. The Passover is the divine act of redemption [rescue from death and danger as well as bondage] = Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Direct link and we need to understand the redemptive work of Christ. Those in bondage to sin can only be redeemed by Christ.
4. As God filled the Tabernacle with His presence what would your response be to such a magnificent display of His glory? What is your response to the display of His glory in Christ today in this place. We will be singing a song about redemption in just a moment…consider all the extreme lengths that God has gone to in order to redeem a people, you, unto Himself and respond appropriately in song.
5. Develop your relationship with God on His terms; as He has revealed Himself to truly be.
6. God reveals Himself and brings a people unto Himself to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Do you know the main function of ‘priests’?” Priests serve.
7. God has revealed Himself here in Exodus and ultimately in the person of Jesus. Read all about it…pick up and read.
Essential Impact: God goes to extreme lengths to create / produce / cause to exist, for Himself a people through which His promise to Abraham will be fulfilled.
Scripture records this extreme type of work that God does. Exodus is completely dedicated to it…and we see it in the first half when God moves His people out of Egypt in chapters 1 through 18...
Main 1: Appreciate what it means to be redeemed
…and in the process, of redeeming, God shows us three aspects of His being, 3 characteristics…
I. Guidance:
a. their increase: in Exodus 1.7 reminds us what was said to Abraham in Genesis 12.1-3 and the promise of the descendants is being fulfilled…
but they find out that things aren’t always roses because of their numbers the Egyptians become afraid of them and so they are enslaved but even in their slavery God continues to fulfill His promise and they continue to increase even when things are made harder at work. And so finally the Pharaoh has a plan to stop this population growth…He plans their limited extermination by declaring all Hebrew males must be destroyed at birth. But we must recall all of Genesis 12.1-3 ‘Curse those who curse you’…ooops Pharaoh…
if all males die then there will be no nation
if all males die the Messiah will not be born
…Ooops Pharaoh has a problem because now he has placed himself in the “curse Israel” category and God speaks Exodus 4.21-23.
b. Eventually Israel calls on God for deliverance from the fairly oppressive hand of Pharaoh. God hears their cry and God calls on Moses. [Illustration: You call 911 = dispatch for help…dispatch calls County EMS = rescue] During the Divine commissioning, so to speak, God reveals to Moses a personal, significant detail about who He is…when Moses asks whom shall I say sent me…God replies, “Tell them ‘I am’ sent you.”
II. Deliverance:
c. The plagues come and the people are set free…redeemed. Moses is given the job of going to Pharaoh to secure the release of the Jews so that they may worship God freely. You have seen and have read and know the progress of the ten plagues that come upon Israel. The “wise men/magicians” of Egypt recognize God after the first few but Pharaoh continues upon the path of being an enemy of Israel and therefore an enemy of God. And so finally God moves to deliver His people through an incredible act of judgment upon Pharaoh’s house…* Passover * And the people are set free.
III. Preservation / Protection:
d. While they are leaving Egypt and in the wilderness God moves in many ways to preserve them and to protect them…some of the high points are…
1. from Egyptian military [chapter 14]
2. from thirst [chapter 15]
3. from hunger [chapter 16]
4. from defeat [chapter 17]
Before we move on to the second half of Exodus we need to pause and look a bit more closely at the idea of redemption and how this theme winds its way through the entire Bible…after all this is a sermon series on the entire Bible and we will meet redemption again and again.
Main 2: Redemption through the Bible
In today’s Christian culture the term redemption has come to be equated with God’s plan and work of salvation but Biblically speaking it is only one aspect of the whole plan and work of salvation. The idea / process of redemption involve the release of people and / or things from bondage / tyranny / oppression with the necessity of an outside agent / source. This is commonly achieved by a financial interaction. [Illustration: redeem your prize] Redemption cannot be achieved under one’s own auspices. “God helps those who help themselves”…not when it comes to redemption. [Illustration: Scene from Star Wars where Padmay, Annikan, and Obewan are prisoners in the gladiator ring and about to be devoured by monsters. They do pretty well in fighting the monsters but then as the other Jedi arrive to rescue them all the Jedi are in trouble and about to be destroyed but at the last second Yoda arrives with the clone army…the outside source of rescue.]
Exodus is the paradigm of redemption as to the work of God. First, God intervenes to free slaves from under Pharaoh who holds them against their will. Second, He breaks the cruel oppressive grip of Pharaoh upon Israel not by a monetary repayment but simply by force. Finally, God acts because of His prior relationship with Israel, “The God of your ancestors Exodus 3.6, 15-16. This role of God is echoed through the Psalms 19.14, 78.35. Isaiah and the Prophets use this picture repeatedly for the exiles and those Israelites who are judged of God.
Redemption can also simply mean to rescue from danger / death. And in Scripture not only does God do this: 2 Samuel 4.9, Job 5.20, Psalm 103.4, 25.22, 31.5, Lamentation 3.58 but friends may also “redeem” from danger as rescuers; 1 Samuel 14.45 and Job 6.23.
Before we turn to redemption in the NT there is one more thing to consider about redemption in the OT. Although limited in references there is the idea that redemption is also from sin. Psalm 130.7-8 have the most far reaching example but Isaiah 44.22-23 and 59.20 support this aspect of redemption as well.
In the NT the Gospels are quite sparse with reference to redemption although Mark 10.45 ransom is directly related to financial redemption Luke is the only other Gospel writer to use the idea of redemption. [Luke 1.68, 2.38, 24.21] Redemption is, on the other hand, prominent in Paul’s writings. Galatians 3.13 and 4.5 are particularly strong in this regard. See also 1 Corinthians 6.20 and 7.22. A final note comes from Revelation 5.8-9 and 14.3-4 where these two songs incorporate redemption as part of the praise of God.
Returning now to the Exodus and the way in which God goes to extreme lengths…
Main 3: Develop in your relationship with God as He reveals Himself through the Covenant Law
a. Why God gave the Covenant [19.3-6] 3 Moses went up to God, and the LORD called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings, and brought you to Myself. 5 ‘Now then, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My own possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine; 6 and you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the sons of Israel.”
b. The Big Ten plus other regulations
c. God is revealed [24.9-11] 9 Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10 and they saw the God of Israel; and under His feet there appeared to be a pavement of sapphire, as clear as the sky itself. 11 Yet He did not stretch out His hand against the nobles of the sons of Israel; and they saw God, and they ate and drank.
d. Where to meet with God [Tabernacle]
e. a rough start where the people don’t do it
f. a better progress
*** g. God fills the Tabernacle 40.34-38
APPLICATION:
1. The extreme length of revealing Himself personally. Believers are God’s children…when He tells Moses His name, YHWH, He is revealing something personal about Himself. There is much to His name but one thing is for certain, there is an implication that we know God personally. Do you know Him personally. Do you relate to God in a personal way? Talking with Him, finding out about Him, listening to Him…
2. God’s promise to Abraham…curse those who curse you…Pharaoh puts himself in that position. The permanence of this promise can be watched from a believers perspective in History and in Modern Times.
3. The Passover is the divine act of redemption [rescue from death and danger as well as bondage] = Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Direct link and we need to understand the redemptive work of Christ. Those in bondage to sin can only be redeemed by Christ.
4. As God filled the Tabernacle with His presence what would your response be to such a magnificent display of His glory? What is your response to the display of His glory in Christ today in this place. We will be singing a song about redemption in just a moment…consider all the extreme lengths that God has gone to in order to redeem a people, you, unto Himself and respond appropriately in song.
5. Develop your relationship with God on His terms; as He has revealed Himself to truly be.
6. God reveals Himself and brings a people unto Himself to be a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation.” Do you know the main function of ‘priests’?” Priests serve.
7. God has revealed Himself here in Exodus and ultimately in the person of Jesus. Read all about it…pick up and read.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
October 4th, 2009...One Year: Covenant
Introduction: In Genesis 3, in one fell swoop, all of humanity is lost. Granted it was only two people but the entire human race was condemned to death. God had created Adam and Eve to tend the Garden and to enjoy a relationship with Him. They were the first citizens of God’s Kingdom. They were to fill the earth with more people but when sin entered the world through their disobedience paradise was lost and God set into motion the restoration of the relationship through the process of redemption. In some small but significant ways God shows His grace towards Adam and Eve at first and then to other humans. Even though sin increases tremendously God continues to move towards salvation and reconciliation. From chapters 3-11 of Genesis the promises that God makes and keep come in general and somewhat universal terms. As we enter into God’s Holy Word in Genesis 12 He zooms in with a very specific person and a specific promise. Whereas the door of redemption was only a crack open in chapters 3-11 now it is swung wide and we see through the threshold a journey of epic proportions. The door is open and we see with a wide angle lens all of the Bible accounts we have ever learned in Sunday School…look there is Adam and Eve, Noah and the Ark, Abraham with his son Isaac walking up a mountain, there is David standing over a dead giant, Ezekiel looking up in the sky at some fantastic wheel spinning, Ezra building a wall, Queen Esther outside the King’s door, Joseph with Mary riding a donkey, Jesus speaking with Peter James and John in a garden, Paul preaching on Mars Hill, John alone on an Island. And then we turn and focus on Genesis 12 and the wide angle lens moves into a close up where everything else is blocked from our view. Zooming in we see a man??? Not exclusively, for the man is not the main character, God is the main character and God speaks to a man…because
Essential Impact: God is the one who takes the initiative in the story / chronicle / account / narrative / history / journal / saga of redeeming a people unto Himself. Redeeming a citizenship of His Kingdom.
How He does this is by instituting a pledge [covenant, promise, assurance, guarantee, vow, oath, word of honor, security, sworn pronouncement] with one man whose name is Abram.
We know virtually nothing about Abram for the first 75 years of his life and then again virtually nothing about the last 75 years of his life. The information we have and are deeply interested is, where God is decidedly at work in his life, from the time he is 75 until he is 100.
Genesis 12-50 covers the “lives” of four people Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. We will cover Isaac and Jacob briefly but most of our time this morning will be spent with Abram and Joseph.
Main 1: God initiates with Abram and reveals how He works to bring about faith / faithfulness.
a. Genesis 1-11: examples galore of faithlessness
b. Contrast with Abram: Human attempt11.4 “name for ourselves”
God’s initiative 12.2 “I will make a name for you.”
c. The Covenant begins specifically:
1. Go
2. “I will…” 5 times the Lord takes action upon Abram et. al.
3. Genesis 12.2-3: “All the families of the earth will be blessed…”
Illustration: 1988 My call to ministry because God is still taking the initiative. Thus, when God made this covenant with Abram my future, our future, was set into motion in the past. Interesting food for thought.
d. Redemptive history begins with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but does not end with them. They stand for us with an emphasis upon the Divine Promise maker, God
e. We see in Abram both faith, which leads us to applaud Abram, and folly which moves us to applaud God for continuing to keep His promise.
f. Genesis 12.1-3 = Divine Initiative
Genesis 12.4 = Faith response…if it was recorded before the promise then it would indicate that the promise was made based upon obedience…and then works would take center stage in salvation but God’s initiative work is at the center of salvation by grace through faith. Important truth.
g. David Clines outlines 19 passages in Genesis where Divine promises are involved. 13 of them towards Abram, 3 towards Jacob, 2 towards Isaac, and 1 towards Hagar.
h. When we actually look at the content of the promise made to Abraham we see that their fulfillment is mostly future. Abraham didn’t “get” the promise kept it’s it fullness. So what did he get? He got the God of the promise…Friend of God.
i. Not all lollipops and gummi bears. There were lapses in faith for Abraham.
1. Has his wife lie to Pharaoh to save his own life
2. Employs the same tactic with the Philistines
3. He goes to be with Hagar and Ishmael is born
j. But there is ample evidence of faith as well
1. chapter 12 = hears voice of God and goes
2. chapter 13 = when in Egypt he asserts his own thinking and strife ensues but when it comes to Lot and the land he trusts the hand of God
3. chapter 14 = militarily defeats the big guns…
“I will curse those who curse you…”
4. chapters 15 + 17 = Conversation with God where Abraham speaks very little…God speaks…inititative
5. chapters 18 + 19 = He intercedes for the wicked
6. chapter 20 = prays for his wife’s barreness.
Main 2: God initiates with Isaac and reminds us the He will fulfill His promise.
a. Human fulfillment is Hagar + Ishmael
b. Son of Promise is still God’s prerogative…Isaac is born when it’s physically impossible
c. Chapter 26 God reiterates His promise…Abraham and Isaac.
Main 3: God initiates with Jacob and shows us the need for divine change / transformation.
The Need for Transformation…
a. from the very beginning…the struggle in the womb and God explains…at birth he grabs at his brothers heel.
b. exploits his brother and gains Esau’s birthright…family strife
c. deceives his father and gains a blessing.
The Preparation for Transformation…
a. at Jacob’s first meeting with God at Bethel he wakes and is afraid…he has a guilty conscience…unlike Abraham, Isaac and even Lot who all welcome the Lord. Jacob is like Adam who hid because he was afraid.
b. God shows Himself to Jacob at Bethel then God show Jacob himself through Laban and all of the trickery and deceit…
c. then when returning home Jacob tries to manipulate the meeting with Esau…who would you say Jacob truly needs to meet Esau or God?
The Transformation…
a. at Bethel 20 years earlier Jacob was alone and afraid of God
b. Jacob once again finds himself alone and wrestles with the messenger of the Lord. He is weak and clings on for dear life as they wrestle. Where he once was the “winner” by his deceit and manipulation now he is the “losing” party but holds on.
c. Asks for a blessing
d. “What is your name?” = Jacob = supplanter, trickster…
d1. Given a new name = transformed = Israel = strives with God
c1. Given a new blessing = 32.29
b1. Left with a reminder = bum hip
Main 4: God initiates with Joseph and shows us how He works all things for good.
a. Joseph the dreamer makes his family jealous…his father didn’t help
b. He was sold into slavery and his brothers were content to treat him as dead
c. Rises to prominence in Potiphar’s house…enter the wife
*importance of his purity*
d. Placed in prison and used but forgotten again.
e. Was remembered and able to interpret dreams for Pharaoh
f. Position of power given to him to save multiple thousand
g. Which include his own family and the line of the Messiah
h. After Jacob dies the brothers fear retribution and from the mouth of Joseph we get the jewel of God’s machinations and the results of His initiatives. Genesis 50 15-20
APPLICATION:
God initiates to bring about faith:
1. The distinct voice of God.
For me it was my call to ministry and then a 7 year wait.
Maybe God is / has / will call you to vocational ministry.
2. God’s promise(s) to His children
Has He promised you Health? Wealth? Forgiveness? His presence?
3. Life’s rhythms, trouble and our attempts to fulfill His promises…WAIT and let God fulfill His promises.
God initiates transformation
1. Who are you? Ask your self the question and look deeply at yourself. Are you a worrier? Are you a fabricator? Do you manipulate to get your way? Do you stack the deck in your favor?
2. God has shown you Himself, in His Son Jesus Christ. Have you come to Christ? Do you know Him? Have you trusted Him for the forgiveness of your sins?
3. If you have faith in Jesus can you identify the transforming effect of His life in yours? For Jacob his name was changed. Can you look at your life and point to the places where He has cause transformation.
God initiates and shows His goodness
1. The hardships of your life are the crucible of God’s goodness.
2. What others mean for evil…God is meaning for good? Can you get your hands on that? It really boils down to your view of God. How big? How faithful? How trustworthy? How able? How good? How loving? How just? How whatever…is the God you believe in?
Conclusion: As we prepare to participate together in the celebration of communion we are reminded of the words of Christ recorded in 1 Corinthians, “This is the cup of my blood the blood of a new covenant.” As it is that God initiated with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph the ultimate expression of His initiation is seen in His Son whom He sent to establish the new covenant in His blood. Each week we’ll be seeing more and more and hopefully your view of God will get bigger and more refined and as you think about Him, in His presence, you will understand and know Him so that you will love Him and worship Him more than you did before.
Essential Impact: God is the one who takes the initiative in the story / chronicle / account / narrative / history / journal / saga of redeeming a people unto Himself. Redeeming a citizenship of His Kingdom.
How He does this is by instituting a pledge [covenant, promise, assurance, guarantee, vow, oath, word of honor, security, sworn pronouncement] with one man whose name is Abram.
We know virtually nothing about Abram for the first 75 years of his life and then again virtually nothing about the last 75 years of his life. The information we have and are deeply interested is, where God is decidedly at work in his life, from the time he is 75 until he is 100.
Genesis 12-50 covers the “lives” of four people Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph. We will cover Isaac and Jacob briefly but most of our time this morning will be spent with Abram and Joseph.
Main 1: God initiates with Abram and reveals how He works to bring about faith / faithfulness.
a. Genesis 1-11: examples galore of faithlessness
b. Contrast with Abram: Human attempt11.4 “name for ourselves”
God’s initiative 12.2 “I will make a name for you.”
c. The Covenant begins specifically:
1. Go
2. “I will…” 5 times the Lord takes action upon Abram et. al.
3. Genesis 12.2-3: “All the families of the earth will be blessed…”
Illustration: 1988 My call to ministry because God is still taking the initiative. Thus, when God made this covenant with Abram my future, our future, was set into motion in the past. Interesting food for thought.
d. Redemptive history begins with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but does not end with them. They stand for us with an emphasis upon the Divine Promise maker, God
e. We see in Abram both faith, which leads us to applaud Abram, and folly which moves us to applaud God for continuing to keep His promise.
f. Genesis 12.1-3 = Divine Initiative
Genesis 12.4 = Faith response…if it was recorded before the promise then it would indicate that the promise was made based upon obedience…and then works would take center stage in salvation but God’s initiative work is at the center of salvation by grace through faith. Important truth.
g. David Clines outlines 19 passages in Genesis where Divine promises are involved. 13 of them towards Abram, 3 towards Jacob, 2 towards Isaac, and 1 towards Hagar.
h. When we actually look at the content of the promise made to Abraham we see that their fulfillment is mostly future. Abraham didn’t “get” the promise kept it’s it fullness. So what did he get? He got the God of the promise…Friend of God.
i. Not all lollipops and gummi bears. There were lapses in faith for Abraham.
1. Has his wife lie to Pharaoh to save his own life
2. Employs the same tactic with the Philistines
3. He goes to be with Hagar and Ishmael is born
j. But there is ample evidence of faith as well
1. chapter 12 = hears voice of God and goes
2. chapter 13 = when in Egypt he asserts his own thinking and strife ensues but when it comes to Lot and the land he trusts the hand of God
3. chapter 14 = militarily defeats the big guns…
“I will curse those who curse you…”
4. chapters 15 + 17 = Conversation with God where Abraham speaks very little…God speaks…inititative
5. chapters 18 + 19 = He intercedes for the wicked
6. chapter 20 = prays for his wife’s barreness.
Main 2: God initiates with Isaac and reminds us the He will fulfill His promise.
a. Human fulfillment is Hagar + Ishmael
b. Son of Promise is still God’s prerogative…Isaac is born when it’s physically impossible
c. Chapter 26 God reiterates His promise…Abraham and Isaac.
Main 3: God initiates with Jacob and shows us the need for divine change / transformation.
The Need for Transformation…
a. from the very beginning…the struggle in the womb and God explains…at birth he grabs at his brothers heel.
b. exploits his brother and gains Esau’s birthright…family strife
c. deceives his father and gains a blessing.
The Preparation for Transformation…
a. at Jacob’s first meeting with God at Bethel he wakes and is afraid…he has a guilty conscience…unlike Abraham, Isaac and even Lot who all welcome the Lord. Jacob is like Adam who hid because he was afraid.
b. God shows Himself to Jacob at Bethel then God show Jacob himself through Laban and all of the trickery and deceit…
c. then when returning home Jacob tries to manipulate the meeting with Esau…who would you say Jacob truly needs to meet Esau or God?
The Transformation…
a. at Bethel 20 years earlier Jacob was alone and afraid of God
b. Jacob once again finds himself alone and wrestles with the messenger of the Lord. He is weak and clings on for dear life as they wrestle. Where he once was the “winner” by his deceit and manipulation now he is the “losing” party but holds on.
c. Asks for a blessing
d. “What is your name?” = Jacob = supplanter, trickster…
d1. Given a new name = transformed = Israel = strives with God
c1. Given a new blessing = 32.29
b1. Left with a reminder = bum hip
Main 4: God initiates with Joseph and shows us how He works all things for good.
a. Joseph the dreamer makes his family jealous…his father didn’t help
b. He was sold into slavery and his brothers were content to treat him as dead
c. Rises to prominence in Potiphar’s house…enter the wife
*importance of his purity*
d. Placed in prison and used but forgotten again.
e. Was remembered and able to interpret dreams for Pharaoh
f. Position of power given to him to save multiple thousand
g. Which include his own family and the line of the Messiah
h. After Jacob dies the brothers fear retribution and from the mouth of Joseph we get the jewel of God’s machinations and the results of His initiatives. Genesis 50 15-20
APPLICATION:
God initiates to bring about faith:
1. The distinct voice of God.
For me it was my call to ministry and then a 7 year wait.
Maybe God is / has / will call you to vocational ministry.
2. God’s promise(s) to His children
Has He promised you Health? Wealth? Forgiveness? His presence?
3. Life’s rhythms, trouble and our attempts to fulfill His promises…WAIT and let God fulfill His promises.
God initiates transformation
1. Who are you? Ask your self the question and look deeply at yourself. Are you a worrier? Are you a fabricator? Do you manipulate to get your way? Do you stack the deck in your favor?
2. God has shown you Himself, in His Son Jesus Christ. Have you come to Christ? Do you know Him? Have you trusted Him for the forgiveness of your sins?
3. If you have faith in Jesus can you identify the transforming effect of His life in yours? For Jacob his name was changed. Can you look at your life and point to the places where He has cause transformation.
God initiates and shows His goodness
1. The hardships of your life are the crucible of God’s goodness.
2. What others mean for evil…God is meaning for good? Can you get your hands on that? It really boils down to your view of God. How big? How faithful? How trustworthy? How able? How good? How loving? How just? How whatever…is the God you believe in?
Conclusion: As we prepare to participate together in the celebration of communion we are reminded of the words of Christ recorded in 1 Corinthians, “This is the cup of my blood the blood of a new covenant.” As it is that God initiated with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph the ultimate expression of His initiation is seen in His Son whom He sent to establish the new covenant in His blood. Each week we’ll be seeing more and more and hopefully your view of God will get bigger and more refined and as you think about Him, in His presence, you will understand and know Him so that you will love Him and worship Him more than you did before.
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