Plague #7--Devastating Hail--Proof the Earth is the Lord's

Exodus 9:13-35

L/W-Picked back up—discussed God’s 6th plague of the boils;

How Pharaoh continued to harden his heart and refuse God’s commandment to repent and let Israel go, bringing about God’s judgment and chastisement on Pharaoh and Egypt

How God used what was a sign of oppression for Israel (ash from a furnace) to bring a curse upon the Egyptians, proving He was sovereign over ALL parts of His creation

How, in the Christ connection, we looked at the Roman cross as a tool of death and oppression, which God turned into the means and mode of our salvation through His Son Jesus Christ.

How, in the Biblical application of last week’s text, we should take heed to God’s Word and His commandments and walk in obedience of them—and to see His gracious and merciful longsuffering to see ANY hard heart repent, confess, and profess the name of Jesus Christ

T/W—We are discussing God’s 7th plague against Pharaoh and the Egyptians—His plague of hail, providing/proving the earth is the Lord’s

(READ EXODUS 9:13-15)

In the fallout from Genesis 3, the holistic satisfaction and contentment which once existed b/t man and God was lost. Stemming from the allurement and enticement of sin, man disobeyed and rebelled against God’s holy commandment, thinking they knew better than God. Man had inserted themselves to a belief they could be as God and thus sin and its nature has entered every man’s heart since. Sadly man has since created, fashioned, and adopted for themselves various and gods (little g) and fallen into idolatry, trying to restore what was lost in the garden.

And in this, in man’s fallible and fault wisdom, in the deceit of the enemy, the human race, as a whole has reduced themselves to the shrugging of their shoulders in making the statement, “Does it really matter who men worship just so long as they call the being god?” “Is there honestly no difference between religions, between the various gods worshipped by men?”

Sin has taken it’s toll on man’s mind, on man’s understanding, and it has taken it’s toll on man’s heart—deceiving it and blinding man to the truth about God.

But there’s another narrative, there’s another story, and there’s an absolute truth. A truth that says the only true and living God, one Lord of the whole earth—Yahweh/Jehovah, and that any other “god” worshipped by man is but a creation of man’s depraved mind and imagination. This narrative, this story, deals with another absolute truth, that God who in His divine justice and mercy drove out Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden, has worked to restore man back to Himself. It’s a truth who’s centrality and focus in on God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ and commands man, that in order for restoration and redemption to accomplished, to lay himself, his idols, and his various gods (little g) down and lay ahold of Jesus Christ as both Savior and Lord.

In our passage this morning, this is message God is sending to Pharaoh and the Egyptians—that He alone is the God of the earth and not even man himself can hold himself as god, no matter who they think they are.

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I. (v.13-14) Again, the declaration of God’s Word

Exodus 9:13-14 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Rise early in the morning and stand before Pharaoh, and say to him, ‘Thus says the Lord God of the Hebrews: “Let My people go, that they may serve Me, for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth.”

(CONTEXT)-I pray each of us sees this context of our opening verses as His Word intends that we do:

Up to this point

Six times (up to this point) God had told Moses to go and proclaim His Word to Pharaoh

In these six times we see God’s faithfulness to His character of longsuffering and patience to see men repent from their sin and turn to Him.

In these six times we see God’s heart to not see even the vilest of people miss the opportunity to turn from their evil and wickedness and turn Him as their Lord and Savior

In these six times we see God’s compassion to see not only Israel freed from oppression, but to see the wicked and evil oppressor freed from their bondage as well

Six times (up to this point) Pharaoh had refused to heed and obey God’s Word

In these six refusals we see Pharaoh’s stubbornness and pride grow

In these six refusals we see Pharaoh’s heart grow more and more calloused

In these six refusals we see Pharaoh’s be turned over more and more into a debased mind/heart

At this point:

This is the 7th time God is sending Moses to Pharaoh, to instruct Pharaoh to let His people go, so that they might serve Him

What does this say about God?

We are to see just how patient and long-suffering God is:

We are to see how God still not given up on Pharaoh and the Egyptians

We are to see just how much God still desired to see them turn from their wickedness/sin/idolatry/oppression and turn towards Him

What else do we see here—in context? (Two things)

Pharaoh was to let God’s people go—free them to live and serve Him, but there was terrifying second point in His message

Pharao was marked for terrible destruction, if he rejected God’s Word

The full force of God’s judgment was to fall on Pharaoh and his people, if he rejected God’s Word

Nothing would be able to stop/prevent the utter destruction of those who refuse repentance of idolatry and oppression

(CONNECTION—YOU and ME)

For those who are believers and Christ followers:

We should never give up on those we know—who God has placed on our hearts or in our lives—who are lost and in need of salvation, in need of Jesus Christ;

In our salvation, as believers, we have accepted and received the Truth of God’s only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

This truth, as we have both (1) have believed in it, unto salvation and (2) continue to walk in this truth (2 John), is the truth we should be sharing with those around us who are lost to this world and are at risk of an eternity of separation from God in Hell. And as the spiritual fruits rooted in us in salvation shape and mold us more and more into the image of Jesus—so should they also be what others see in us and desire to have themselves.

We should also know, as believers, these truths in sharing God’s Word

Not only are others given opportunity—witnessing pleases the Lord and there is blessing for the sharer; as He gets the glory, He then fills you up (God blesses obedience)

Hebrews 13:16 “But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.”

God’s Word will never return void—contrary to our plans/thoughts/ways, which fail and falter—the Lord’s plans are different. “When He promises forgiveness and restored blessing for His people, He will be true to His Word.

Isaiah 55:11 “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.”

For those who are lost and not Christ followers:

God’s love, compassion, grace, and longsuffering have been offered to you, b/c no matter what you’ve been told, what lie or fiction you’ve believed—God doesn’t for one second desire to see you bound/shackled/lost in sin

II.(v.14-16) The Purposes fo the Judgment

Exodus 9:14-16 “for at this time I will send all My plagues to your very heart, and on your servants and on your people, that you may know that there is none like Me in all the earth. Now if I had stretched out My hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, then you would have been cut off from the earth. But indeed for this purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”

(CONTEXT)—Two Overall Purposes

(FIRST)—

To prove that the Lord has no equal—(Two things here)

There was/is no one like the Lord in all the earth--(a fact which was proven over and over through each plague; each plague was a deliberate launch against the god(s) worshipped by the Egyptians, and He had taken each plague and tried to show that:

There is only one God—only one true and living God

The gods imagined and dreamed up by man are false gods and nothing but idolatry

Not even man himself is a god—no matter if man is the most powerful ruler upon earth, he is still nothing more than a real man—subject

God alone is sovereign and omnipotent

God could have wiped the Egyptians off the face of the earth, and again the plagues prove this fact, that He is sovereign and in control

Over the heavens/earth

Over the animals of the earth

Over man

Over life and death

Over the entire universe

(SECOND)—To prove God sovereignty and control over people, nations, rulers, and governments of this world

God raised up Pharaoh—set him on a throne (he allowed it to happen, sovereignly) for a primary purpose (to demonstrate His power and to declare His name over all the earth

God took Pharaoh—a man of unspeakable and unbelievable brutality and evil—and made an example of him before the whole world—and in doing, God showed

He is sovereign and in control

He is in charge—even over evil rulers

He does chasten and judge evil rulers & sinful people, but ALSO He is proving

People in the most horrible circumstances imaginable, those who think their sin is too deep, those who think their bondage is too great, can call out to God for deliverance—and God will deliver them

(CONNECTION—YOU and ME)

(First)

The Lord knows the

god(s) we form, make and turn to

Idolatry we choose to enthrone, and the

Things of this world (systems of this world), man uses in an attempt to find contentment/satisfaction

The Lord knows (sees) how, in turning to other gods, turning to idols, and following after the things of this world, people are

Held in bondage

Oppressed by/in sin

Not a peace—but full of unrest/fear/worry

Facing a spiritual death—if they remain un-surrendered

In fact, according to Revelation 2:18 Jesus describes Himself as having eyes like a, “flame of fire”

“Flame of fire...”—I

Indicates the Lord sees a person’s compromise

in the dark/behind closed doors

in a parked car/in a back alley

in offices/homes of the world

Indicates the Lord sees all compromise that

Lies/steals/cheats

Commits immorality

Becomes intoxicated

Takes drugs

Downloads the porn..but despite ALL of this....

The Lord desires nothing more than for people created in His likeness and image to see His only begotten Son—Jesus Christ as the means of redemption, deliverance, and salvation

(Second, see v.14) “…no one like Me...”—In God’s message to Pharaoh, God was appealing to the nature of His name---who He is

God’s name(s) go beyond mere titles—the speak to His nature/His character/His attributes which He

Displays & acts upon

God’s nature/His character/His attributes are 100% at work all the time at the same time—He is never separated from them—He is not one nature one day and another the next

So it is with His name

“Elohim”—creator God—He will always be Creator God

“Jehovah/Yahweh”—Redeemer/Deliverer/Savior who is Immediate/Involved—He will always be acting upon this nature (for His will is that all men might be saved from their sins)

“Jehovah Jireh”--”The Lord will provide”—He will always provide for those, who like Abraham in Genesis 22, follow and trust in Him

So it is with the cross & the grave

The cross is the forever reminder that God has acted to remove the stain of sin from man’s heart

The O/T pointed us to the cross

The N/T directs us back to the cross

The empty grave is the forever reminder that Christ has defeated the sting of death and given those who might surrender abundant, real, and true life.

It’s promise & power still exist for ANY heart that might surrender to Jesus Christ and both Lord and Savior

III.(v.17-21) The Warning of Judgment

Exodus 9:17-21 “As yet you exalt yourself against My people in that you will not let them go. Behold, tomorrow about this time I will cause very heavy hail to rain down, such as has not been in Egypt since its founding until now. Therefore send now and gather your livestock and all that you have in the field, for the hail shall come down on every man and every animal which is found in the field and is not brought home; and they shall die.” ’ ” He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses. But he who did not regard the word of the Lord left his servants and his livestock in the field.”

(CONTEXT)

The cause of the judgment was found in the hearts of Pharaoh and his people (v.17)

Pharaoh and the hearts of the people of Egypt were set against God

Pharaoh and the Egyptians exalted themselves against God’s people...in exalting themselves, they were counted as exalting themselves against God.

Pharaoh and the Egyptians, in comparison to the Israelites, were great people in the eyes of the world, yet had oppressed and enslaved Israel---who in the world’s eyes, were mere shepherds…in oppressing/enslaving Israel, they were counted as oppressing God

Pharao and the Egyptians, not only enslaved Israel, they brutalized them…in abusing God’s people, they were counted as abusing God.

The judgment was to be life-threatening

The worst hail storm ever to strike Egypt was to fall upon the nation (v.18)

The demonstration of God’s mercy

Picture this:

Think of the holocaust launched by Pharaoh and the people of Egypt

Think of the brutal treatment, the savage abuse, and even death by the hands of Pharaoh and the Egyptians (no doubt 1000’s)

Think on this

God here, is instructing Pharaoh to order his people (the Egyptians) to put their servants/livestock/possession under shelter, b/c anything left in the open would be utterly destroyed or killed

The very people who were inflicting so much pain, oppression, and death upon His people—were being offered His mercy—offered a chance to heed Him—a chance to fear Him and obey Him

There were some who DID fear and obey, and they escaped the judgment (v.20-Exodus 9:20 “He who feared the word of the Lord among the servants of Pharaoh made his servants and his livestock flee to the houses.”)

“There were some who “feared the word of the Lord,” and acted accordingly. This is belief as it should be, resulting in..ACTION BASED ON CONFIDENCE IN THE WORD OF THE LORD.” (The Expositor’s Bible Commentary)

Fearing the Lord is to act accordingly to His Word

There were some who DID NOT, of course, fear and follow God

Those who ignored God’s Word—suffered the consequences—they left their servants/cattle in the fields, and they were all killed (v.21)

(CONNECTION—YOU and ME)

God’s judgment and wrath is just as warranted against us today, b/c of our hearts

How many times have we found our hearts set against God, to do what WE think is best, rather than do what God knows is best?

How many times have we found ourselves exalting ourselves?

How many times have or words/actions/attitudes caused hurt/put down/condemn others and put them in bondage?

How many times have we praised Jesus on Sunday to only praise our flesh on Monday?

God’s judgment against these things—and others—is just as life-threatening, maybe even more-so

Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death...”

God, however, has demonstrated His mercy towards us, His love towards us—as He sent Moses to be His messenger, He has sent His Son to be ours…even in the midst of our corrupt/wicked/sinful heart attitudes/actions

Despite the depravity of a person’s, or your thoughts/attitudes/actions

Despite the fear and it’s fiction, which a person, or you (us, we, me) tends to cling to,

Despite how prodigal a person, or you think you’ve been running,

Despite how far a person, or you, think you’ve fallen, or how bad your sin has been and thinking God can’t or won’t redeem you—know this:

Despite the doubt that pours in b/c of sin or your weaknesses, which says God doesn’t care for you—know this

God’s concern for your sin, isn’t so that He might condemn you…no no no, His concern for your sin invokes His justice, His compassion, His grace, and His mercy to see you restored, redeemed, and reconciled—to the point that He gave up His Son to see it accomplished

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

John 3:17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

"When your sin or the weakness of your faith tempts you to doubt that he cares for you, smother the flames of unbelief by putting your trust in what God has told you about his great love." -Mike McKinley

God’s concern for a person’s (yours/mine) sin, which invokes His nature of justice and compassion, grace and mercy—isn’t held until you or I clean ourselves up---no, no, no, listen to what Scripture reminds us of

Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

There will be some who will listen, follow and fear the Lord

Faith and fear must co-exist—EXAMPLE OF THIS LATER

Proverbs 9:10 ““The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”

There will be some who will ignore, reject, and continue to live to themselves this world, and their sin

God warns us of coming judgment

God has provided shelter for us in the Lord Jesus Christ

It is our (yours, mine, us) decision to seek shelter in Christ—to cast our lives, our trust, our dependency upon Jesus Christ

John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”

Acts 4:12 “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

Acts 15:11 “But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.””

1 Thessalonians 5:9 “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,”

Hebrews 5:9 “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him,”

IV (v.22-26) The Day of Judgment Arrives

Exodus 9:22-26 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be hail in all the land of Egypt—on man, on beast, and on every herb of the field, throughout the land of Egypt.” And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt. So there was hail, and fire mingled with the hail, so very heavy that there was none like it in all the land of Egypt since it became a nation. And the hail struck throughout the whole land of Egypt, all that was in the field, both man and beast; and the hail struck every herb of the field and broke every tree of the field. Only in the land of Goshen, where the children of Israel were, there was no hail.”

(CONTEXT)

God gave is instructions to Moses—Moses was to stretch his hand out toward the sky and God would bring hail (terrifying judgment) upon the land

Moses obeyed God—he did exactly what God instructed him to do

The judgment of God fell—note the description

God rained hail on the land (v.23)

Hail fell (v.24)

Lightning flashed (v.24)

The worst storm ever to strike Egypt fell upon the people (v.24)

Hail struck EVERYTHING in the fields: people/animal/vegetation (v.25)

God protected both His people and their land, the land of Goshen

(CONNECTION—YOU and ME)

Simple connection is this:

Judgment is going to fall upon the earth—fall upon the person who’s heart is set against God, who’s heart is un-surrendered and at odds with God…this judgment is

The Great White Throne Judgment—the judgment of man and his sin (the judgment of a life eternally separated from God

Judgment of man and his sin can ONLY be avoided if a person TRULY believes and FOLLOWS God

V. (v27-28) The Response to the Judgment: Deliverance?

Exodus 9:27-28 “And Pharaoh sent and called for Moses and Aaron, and said to them, “I have sinned this time. The Lord is righteous, and my people and I are wicked. Entreat the Lord, that there may be no more mighty thundering and hail, for it is enough. I will let you go, and you shall stay no longer.””

(CONTEXT)

Pharaoh sent for Moses (v.27)

The words Pharaoh used are the very same we “use” when repenting..”I have sinned.”

He also confessed (1) his people were sinful and (2) both they and he deserved the judgment of God (what’s missing from Pharaoh is the fear of the Lord)

Pharaoh pleaded for prayer (v.28)

Pharaoh promised to free God’s people (v.28)

Pharaoh promised to free Israel—God’s people

Pharaoh promised to turn from his evil ways (of torture, enslavement, and tyranny)

Moses assured Pharaoh of God’s deliverance (v.29)

(CONNECTION—YOU and ME)

***NOTE--Not everyone who confesses and repents of sin is sincere!***

Confession and repentance should never be viewed as “religious activity,”---religious activity runs dangerously close to “going through the motions—and in simply, “go through the motions,” of our confession and repentance, we are providing proof that we are not walking in right and reverent fear of the Lord—and absent this fear—the genuineness of our confession/repentance is called into question

Where there exists in a person’s heart, an authentic and reverent fear of the Lord, genuineness of confession and repentance is found,

Yet were authentic and reverent are absent, so to is the the genuineness of one’s confession/repentance

(example from jailed pastor recently)

What does this look like practically?

Confession and repentance must be done in sincerity

Confessing and repentance must begin, Biblically, in seeing our sin for what it is

Confession and repentance brings about conviction—and we must allow it conviction to accomplish it’s purpose

To draw us closer to God—b/c in conviction God is fighting for you

Confession and repentance must contain the follow through—we must do exactly what we have promised the Lord

“Lord, I am turning from my sin of _________” And then we follow through

VI.(v.29-32) The Purpose for the Judgment and Deliverance

Exodus 9:29-32 “So Moses said to him, “As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the Lord; the thunder will cease, and there will be no more hail, that you may know that the earth is the Lord’s. But as for you and your servants, I know that you will not yet fear the Lord God.” Now the flax and the barley were struck, for the barley was in the head and the flax was in bud. But the wheat and the spelt were not struck, for they are late crops.”

(CONTEXT—TWO FOLD)

(FIRST) To prove the whole earth is the Lord’s (v.29)

No “god” created by the mind or hands of men (Pharaoh, Egyptians, his sorcerers, etc) control the earth and what happens

Not Iris—the Egyptian’s water “god”

Not Siris—the Egyptians fire and lightning “god”

No Shu—the Egyptians god of the atmosphere

(SECOND) To prove that the Lord is merciful

(FIRST)

God declared to Moses that king and his officials still did not fear the Lord (v.30)—they were still not ready to repent

God declared to Moses that He still relent and cease the judgment

God declared, in this—Hi was still desiring Pharaoh and the Egyptians to repent, believe, and obey God

(SECOND)

Note the Lord was merciful even in the midst of judgment (Genesis 3, the cross of Christ)—As hail fell upon the land, God spared and allowed some crops to escape destruction

Note again v.31-32 (READ)

(CONNECTION-YOU and ME)—Seen in the second point in two accounts in the Bible

***God is merciful.. He is not willing that anyone perish; He wants every one of us to repent***

Genesis 3 account

Genesis 3:21 “Also for Adam and his wife the Lord God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.”

Genesis 3:22-24 “Then the Lord God said, “Behold, the man has become like one of Us, to know good and evil. And now, lest he put out his hand and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever”—therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”

God—in judging Adam and Eve—driving them out of the garden, was also an act of mercy, why?

Judgment—driving them from the garden (consequence of sin)

Mercy—covered by God and given the opportunity to trust in God’s promise of Genesis 3:15

“And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.””

God’s mercy underscores all of this, b/c He was also keeping Adam and Eve from an eternal life living in a sinful state

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John account of the cross

The judgment on the cross-which is rightfully due to you and me—was poured on Christ so that in God’s

Mercy (withholding what we do deserve), we might be recipients of His

Grace (giving us what we DO NOT deserve)

God’s mercy surrounds the message of the cross, b/c God withholds from those who might surrender, a life of living eternally in their sin—apart from Him

VII.(v.33) The Deliverance from Judgment

Exodus 9:33 “So Moses went out of the city from Pharaoh and spread out his hands to the Lord; then the thunder and the hail ceased, and the rain was not poured on the earth.”

(CONTEXT)

Moses intercession for the people of Egypt—those who were lost

Moses left Pharaoh and went out of the city

Moses got alone with God

Moses spread his hands towards the Lord

This is a picture of crying out to God

Moses’ cry to God produces results—God stopped the judgment—stopped the thunder

(CONNECTION—YOU and ME)

Prayer

Draws out our faith in God

Should never be assumptive—rather demonstrative of our relationship with God

People are lost and dying—we have our sin issues, our weaknesses, trials and temptations

There is a great need for believers---for the church to be people of prayer—of desperate devotion in prayers for ourselves and others

VIII.(v.34-35) The Sin of Turning Back (Pharaoh and his officials again sin and harden their hearts)

Exodus 9:34-35 “And when Pharaoh saw that the rain, the hail, and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet more; and he hardened his heart, he and his servants. So the heart of Pharaoh was hard; neither would he let the children of Israel go, as the Lord had spoken by Moses.”

(CONTEXT)

Again, Pharaoh and his officials sinned—they hardened their hearts once again…but note when

When the storm was over

After the judgment was stopped

Again, Pharaoh and his officials quickly forgot the promises they made to God, b/c:

The cost was too high

Egypt’s economy was already decimated—why make it worse

Egypt’s economy would completely collapse if they gave up their slave labor

Leaders/nations/people who are attached to the riches of this world—will hold others in tyranny to keep it

The cost of giving up their livelihood, their oppression, their sin…was too much

The value of their sin held more value than the message of God

Again, as in Pharaoh’s misguided thoughts we discussed last week, it seems likely, that perhaps,

“Nothing else will happen.”

“There is no Sovereign Lord over the universe.”

“Maybe these disasters are “natural quirks,” or “random products of nature.”

What this revealed about Pharaoh’s heart:

Pharaoh’s hard heart caused him to turn further and further away from God

Pharaoh’s heart was so hard & calloused, he could not see what was happening was the hand of God

(CONNECTION IN THE CLOSING)

What can take away from this passage about God?

(FIRST) God is the Sovereign Lord over all creation

(SECOND) God desires that no man worship false gods, worship false idols, and worshipping false teaching—rather that man would, in relationship with Him—through His Son—worship Him as both Lord and Savior

(THIRD) God sees the effect worshipping false gods, idols, and false teaching has on each of us

(FOURTH) God is going to

Judge those who refuse to repent, who reject/rebel/refuse Him and His Son, but He’s stands ready to

Shower those who might lay down their false gods, idols, and teaching and surrender to the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified

What the questions I have for each of US are these: they deal right and straightforward with our hearts: These questions deal directly with what the Bible says about our sin and the confession of it, but note before we talk about this: “People seem to hunger and thirst for the truth—but seldom like the taste of it when it’s served up.”

Question #1—In confession of your sin—are you confessing “going through the motions, or confessing from authentic fear and reverence of the Lord?”

Do you recognize your sin for what it is and are you allowing conviction to have its way/place with you—are you allowing it to draw you closer to God?

Question #2—In repentance of your sin—are you repenting merely to see the storm end, the chastening cease, or the judgment stop or is your repentance genuine, sincere, and have follow through—are you turning to God and how He calls you to live, b/c you’ve recognized Who He is and What He’s accomplished for you?

Question #2—Do you value your sin more than you valued the message of the cross?

In valuing your sin more than the Jesus Christ and Him crucified, your confession will be superficial, your repentance will be one-sided, and you heart will remain at odds with God.

My prayer—is for those who are lost, who we know are lost and in need of Jesus—is that they would rather choose the salvation which comes in surrender to Christ crucified than the judgment which comes from refusal to surrender

My prayer—is for the believer in this room (or listening)—that you would continue to see and cling to the restorative power of the cross, that we would rejoice in the goodness of God’s nature/character/attributes—we would rejoice in HIS HOLY NAME.

(READ PSALM 34 to close)