The Camp Between Deliverance and Dwelling with God.

Intro:

Turn to Exodus Chapter 19

Introduce Self “I am Mitch Green the Church Planting Resident here.

Ascend Bible Church will launch in Perry Township

Why: Our Elders are aligned that we believer there is a need for another Gospel movement in Perry?

Whats next: Vision Meeting on December 4th.

If you sense the Lord Stirring in your heart we want to welcome you to our Vision Meeting… December 4th Here at Redeemer After second service. You can find more info at AscendBible.Church

Pray as we open Gods word

Transition to Message.....

Recap Exodus (Moses, Plaques, Exodus, Here we are at camp...

Today we are making the transition in Exodus from being delivered to dwelling with God.

As we do this I want to begin with a question....

Posture Intro: Have you ever thought about how your physical posture says something about your heart? (Body Language)

30 hours of Linked-in Learning courses “Body Language for leaders”

Your body language says something about how you are listening and communicating with another party.

Even in this room… it is pretty obvious to a preacher if you are “with me” based off the body language in the room.... “Praise the Lord for those of you who smile and nod your head, and even give a verbal amen, or holy mhmmm every once and a while.

But… not only do your actions say something about your listening… they tend to say something about your heart

Transition: This is where we get this idea of “Heart Posture”.....

- Today I want us to take stock of our heart posture towards God....

What we will see in Exodus 19 is that God is providing actions/instruction to prepare the hearts of the people of Isreal to hear the ten commandments, and I believe that we can use this instruction to prepare our hearts to always be tuned in to listen to God speak.

Big Idea: God’s deliverance leads to worship, and worship leads to a heart that is waiting expectantly for God to speak .

Exodus 19:1–2 ESV

On the third new moon after the people of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on that day they came into the wilderness of Sinai. They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain,

Encamped In the Wilderness… (Show Picture)

- To make camp with 600,000 men… (does not include women and children) (about 2mil total)

They will be here for about a year.

When you think of a camp this large what is the first thing that comes to mind? (Wood Stock 400,000 people)

Transition: When 2 Million people are camping in the wilderness there needs to be some guidance, there needs to be some rules.... But before the rules/law can be delivered God must make sure the Isrealites first understand who they are, and that there heart postureis in the right place. to receive his instruction. So our passage continues...

Exodus 19:3–8 ESV

while Moses went up to God. The Lord called to him out of the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.” So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. All the people answered together and said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do.” And Moses reported the words of the people to the Lord.

Position... v 6

before we can get to instructions of the camp we have to discuss their position.

Exodus 19:6 ESV

and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel.”

God is God.

This what we have seen this whole story…

We are learning about who God is.

Moses continues his function (between God and Isreal)....

Moses will receive instruction from God and deliver it to the people… simple but what about this idea of nation of Priest?

2. The new Role for Isreal “The nation of Priest”

Define:

Treasured among all people.

A kingdom & a nation = Holy: Set apart, Just, Pure.

Recap: Isreal is set apart by God, and given the role of priest for the entire world… and with this comes instruction on how to fulfil their role.

Pause for a second… I hope the parallels to the church are obvious to you…

The Church (Big C Church) = The kingdom of God.

You Believer have been Given a role by God.... .

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Revelation 1:6 ESV

and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

This not the primary point of todays message… but if you dont know this.... this might be the most important message you here today. You are the church.. we do not simply go to church. We gather as the church.... you have a role and a responsibility.

Transition: So now the scene is set everyone understands their positon.... lets discuss the heart posture God wants for his people as he speaks to them..

I'm going to give these away up front because I want us to know where we are going.... What we will see is that....

Share all 4:

A Heart posture of Deliverance, leads to remembrance.

A Heart posture of Remembrance, leads to worship.

A Heart posture of Worship leads to Obedience.

A Heart Posture of Worship Leads to Expectation.

Transition: So lets jump in. …

1. Deliverance leads to remembrance V4

Exodus 19:4 ESV

‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.

What have you seen God deliver your from?

For Isreal: they were literally delivered from bondage....

430 years they were in Egpyt

literally slaving away

God has parted the red sea for them.

he has delivered them to camp.

For you and me:

- Dont we believe that Gods sovereign hand is guiding our life.

Maybe you felt bound by sin that you no longer struggle with

maybe God helped you escape from an abusive relationship

or maybe its your eternal hope....

The weight of sin, the pressure of performance, constant anxiety because we cannot handle lifes problems on our own....

There is a God who cares and has delivered you… or is actively delivery you to eternal peace and hope.

Transition: Have you stopped to think about that today, this week, this month. God didn’t leave us he rescued us just as he rescued Isreal? So Deliverance leads to remembrance.

2. Remembrance Leads to Worship

Lets continue reading at verse 9....

Exodus 19:9–13 ESV

And the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I am coming to you in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with you, and may also believe you forever.” When Moses told the words of the people to the Lord, the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments and be ready for the third day. For on the third day the Lord will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people. And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”

God is now instructing Moses to prepare Isreal’s hearts for what he is about to deliver, and what he is doing is very similar instruction to what you would seen in Ancient times if a king or Ruler was coming to town.

For Isreal:

Consecrate them today = Be Holy.....

clean your clothes, dress your best, dont get to close. (Dress and prepare for the occasion)

The Lord will come down

This is a Proper understanding of who God is?

Healthy limits

Healthy fear

Reverence

Transition: This is ultimately an act of worship… They will do this because they have seen what God has done. Deliverance leads to remembrance, and remembrance leads to worship.

3. Worship leads to obedience :

The passage continues on in verse 15....

Exodus 19:15–25 ESV

And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” On the morning of the third day there were thunders and lightnings and a thick cloud on the mountain and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. Now Mount Sinai was wrapped in smoke because the Lord had descended on it in fire. The smoke of it went up like the smoke of a kiln, and the whole mountain trembled greatly. And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up. And the Lord said to Moses, “Go down and warn the people, lest they break through to the Lord to look and many of them perish. Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.” And Moses said to the Lord, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for you yourself warned us, saying, ‘Set limits around the mountain and consecrate it.’ ” And the Lord said to him, “Go down, and come up bringing Aaron with you. But do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to the Lord, lest he break out against them.” So Moses went down to the people and told them.

For Isreal Obedience:

for now at-least they do this....

They worship God the way he desires (foreshadowing).

They seek purity… Not because there is anything wrong with Sex… but out of Reverence to God.

Think about your gut reaction to that?

its simpler than we make it… obey God.

We think we know better than God. Who are we to tell God that he is wrong, to put logical limits on our obedience?…

So out of reverence and worship and obey.

Why… Because they have seen what God has done for them and who God is, and he is worthy of their worship.... and out of worship they will obey.

For You:

- What is your active response to God in worship?

God makes the call for our life rather clear. do we obey?

I dont want to Guilt you, because guilt will rarely lead to obedience… but true worship will create a heart that cant help but obey God.

Transition: How is your posture of worship been lately?… God has delivered you do you remember that? he is worthy of your worship, and thus your obedience, and lastly worship creates a posture of expectation.

4. Worship leads to expectation:

look back at verse 17

Exodus 19:17 ESV

Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain.

This point will be incomplete (because this is where todays passage ends)… but I want to leave us with a spirit of expectation both for next weeks sermon and in our personal lives.

When you understand what God has done… you cant help but worship, and when you worship your life gets in line, and you live life in a way that you look to God for guidance not what is right in front of you..... meaning you expect God to guide you and speak.

Posture of Isreal (bring that picture back up): They are literally standing before the mountain waiting to hear from God… waiting to see what God is going to do…

God has delivered them, God has prepared their hearts, their physical posture is now reflective of Where God wants their heart....

As God has moved them from Deliverance to dwelling.

Application:

When the people of God are in right relationship with God

1. we experience peace (because we live with God)

2. we have the privilege to act in the world for God.

3. We Dwell with God, and therefore our hope and trust is in him and not anything of this world.

As We close I want to lead us into a prayer.....

Thank God for deliverance.

Thank God for our position

Worship God

May our worship lead to greater...

A. Obedience

B. Holy Living

C. A Spirit of Expectation.