God's Voice Heard
Notes
Transcript
Reading:
6 Say therefore to the people of Israel, ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from slavery to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great acts of judgment.
7 I will take you to be My people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the Lord your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
Introduction:
Back in Exodus 6 God told Moses that He would claim the Jews as His own and He would be their God.
The Burdens that enslaved them wouldn’t bind them any more, He would deal with them and remove them forever!
He showed and did just that.
The details about it all, we just went through and finished at chapter 18.
We now have recorded for us from chapters 19-24 God claiming them as His own and entering a covenant relationship with them fulfilling the promise He made back in chapter 6.
Chapter 19 is where Israel hears the voice of the Lord for the first time!
In chapter 19 we can see that Israel is no longer in the infancy of their faith.
They need to go on into:
A life of maturity (1-4)
A life of maturity (1-4)
The Jews had their stage of being birthed into a nation who’s leader is God.
(Make the case beginning with the burning bush and the Lord hearing the cries of the Hebrews).
Ending with God providing for them the spiritual nutrition and physical things they need for life.
Connection:
We can see the infancy of our faith as we parallel our lives with Israel in Exodus.
We cry out to Him, He hears our cries.
Whether it is for salvation of our souls or for help in general.
He sends one to be our deliverer and leader.
Jesus Christ:
He can deliver any of us from whatever sin enslaves us.
He will lead us out and away from that life of bondage, and He will eliminate it so we don’t have to go back!
(?) Where is He leading us?
He is leading us to a place of worship!
Where our lives will be as Romans 12:1-2 says
1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
That place of worship is our daily duty to submit to what Jesus said He would expect from His disciples.
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me.
25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?
Thought:
I personally don’t find it easy, how about you?
Many times we find ourselves restless and wandering the desert or camping as Israel was waiting on the Lord while not understanding His plans.
1 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.
2 They set out from Rephidim and came into the wilderness of Sinai, and they encamped in the wilderness. There Israel encamped before the mountain,
What should we be doing while waiting?
We should be re-grouping or making hay while the sun shines.
Growing in our knowledge and understanding of God, because we trust that He is working on us through that time.
Preparing our hearts, minds, and relationships for times of testing and trials.
Our preparation should mimic a tree when between the stages of flowering and bearing fruit.
That process is:
Germination: Germination initiates the journey. The seed absorbs water, swells, and eventually sprouts roots and shoots. This process typically takes 1 to 3 weeks, depending on the species and environmental conditions.
Growth: The young tree, also known as a sapling, develops leaves and a sturdy trunk. Adequate sunlight, water, and nutrients are crucial at this stage. For instance, apple trees thrive in well-drained, loamy soils with full sunlight.
Flowering: Flowering occurs when the tree reaches maturity, generally between 3 to 10 years. During this period, blossoms appear, attracting pollinators like bees. The number of flowers varies by species, with some trees producing hundreds while others yield only a few.
Pollination: Pollination happens shortly after flowering. Pollen transfers from the male part (anther) to the female part (stigma) of the flowers. This process can be aided by wind or insects. Successful pollination is vital for fruit development.
Fruit Development: Following pollination, fertilization occurs, leading to fruit development. The ovary of the flower begins to swell and form fruit around the seeds. This stage can take several weeks to months, depending on the type of fruit. For example, peaches generally take 3 to 5 months to mature after flowering.
Maturity: Maturity signals when the fruit ripens. The fruit undergoes color changes and softens, indicating readiness for harvest. Many fruits reach maturity between late summer and fall, correlating with their specific growth cycles.
Harvesting: Harvesting involves picking ripe fruit, ensuring optimal taste and texture. Timing varies for each tree type, so monitoring fruit color and firmness is essential. For example, ripe oranges typically possess a bright orange color and yield slightly to pressure.
The process for bearing fruit ends with the harvesting.
In this process for a believer we find that the end will be when we arrive in Heaven.
The fruit must have a source for life.
Just like Christ told us in John 15 where He describes Himself as the source for life!
And the Father as the vinedresser.
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.
2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.
The parallel of the fruit process to our spiritual growth brings us to where Israel is in this moment of the timeline.
In the “growth” stage:
That point when growth is to be nurtured effectively to bear much fruit later and to build strength.
Thinking through the stages and seeing the parallel for Israel:
What stage are you in?
Ask the Lord what He is doing in your life and what He desires to do with you.
Flourish where He has your and learn what He offers.
Hear what God tells Moses on the mountain towards your life and be encouraged:
4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
Warren Wiersbe describes what He is doing to help Israel mature with a picture for what Eagles do for their young.
“At a certain stage in the development of their young , the parent eagles break up the comfortable nest and force the eaglets to fly. The young birds may not be anxious to leave the security of the nest, but they must learn to fly if they’re going to fulfill their purposes in life.
The adult birds stay near the fledglings and, if they fall, carry them on their strong wings until the young birds learn how to use their wings, ride the air currents, and enjoy the abilities God gave them.” - Warren Wiersbe
Anytime we are focused on the past and desire to go back, we aren’t maturing.
We are either stagnant or are missing the teachings of the Lord for our lives.
Our mindset will dictate how we respond to the tests and trials.
We can view them as iron bars or opportunities to mature in our freedoms.
Transition:
We can fly like eagles or we can be children whom desire flight but won’t branch out of our comfort zone to do it.
God desires that we grow in our faith to maturity.
Just like He did Israel; but He wants them to have A:
Life of Dignity (5-8)
Life of Dignity (5-8)
God gives a conditional promise.
5 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;
The Word “if” makes it conditional.
If you obey my voice and keep my covenant
Result: You shall be my treasured possession!
Among ALL peoples.
Israel would be God’s treasured possession.
God is the maker of all nations; but He chose Israel to be His treasure.
4 For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel as his own possession.
How did they become His?
By His sovereign grace.
They didn’t earn it, or deserve it.
It doesn’t mean they are better than other nations.
It just means they are set apart for God’s special work!
The whole world has been blessed through Israel.
4 They are Israelites, and to them belong the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the worship, and the promises.
5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ, who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
Israel was given these blessings and their special work was to bless the World with them.
Also through them came Jesus, the best blessing for the world to receive.
They were made priests through God’s choosing them.
A Holy nation!
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 people of Israel.”
This meant they were to be a living testimony of God to the world.
No different than what we as believers are called to.
5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9 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.
Our calling is to represent Jesus everywhere we are.
As we speak to people our lives attest to what we say we believe, we are our own credible witness to the truth.
Israel was to be this to the world, and the Jewish priests were to be the example for the people to follow.
The priests were to teach the people to put a difference between “holy and un-holy” and between “Clean and un-clean”.
The priests failed and their failure helped lead the nation into defilement and destruction.
Moses told the elders all the Lord commanded and they agreed to it!
7 So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him.
8 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.
They made the agreement; but later it seemed they didn’t really intend to uphold that conditional “if” to the Lord.
Seeing how they made a golden calf in the midst of the presence of God!
Their hearts didn’t seem to change and their will wasn’t strengthened when they made the agreement to do all God asked.
They didn’t live up to the charge, similar to the charge we have from Paul’s writings to the church of Colossae.
17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
No one can make agreements for living up to what God has asked unless the heart is changed from cold and non-responsive to the Holy Spirit, to vibrant and alive to His calling.
We aren’t able to withstand the temptations of our sinful heart or the culture we are part of, unless our will is strengthened and dedicated to only what is Holy to the Lord.
We could all follow the example of Job and what he decided.
1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes; how then could I gaze at a virgin?
Job was upright in every way, and that was possible through the changing of his heart and his will was strengthened in the Lord and what he said he would do.
Transition:
The Lord asked them to be His nation and that nation was to have the heart and will to uphold holiness.
God, after making a big spectacle in Egypt wanted all the world to see what a nation who’s leader is God looks like!
To be a walking advertisement for the Almighty Lord!
The way to live is to live:
A life of Sanctity (9-25)
A life of Sanctity (9-25)
Sanctity is defined as:
Holiness; state of being sacred or holy. God attributes no sanctity to place. Goodness; purity; godliness; as the sanctity of love; sanctity of manners. - Noah Webster
God came to His people.
9 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 asked of them to follow an cleansing ceremony.
I would think that this would allow them to be near His presence.
Seeing how it is designed to make them “holy”.
The word consecrate means:
To make or declare to be sacred, by certain ceremonies or rites; to appropriate to sacred uses; to set apart, dedicate, or devote, to the service and worship of God; as, to consecrate a church. - Noah Webster
They were to consecrate themselves for 3 days.
The consecration could have also included their personal conduct.
The things that aren’t Holy and Pure would need to be stopped with extreme prejudice - Put Away!
This was the spiritual preparation for being ready to get close to God.
Removing the things that distract from the Lord.
If we are to look at our own lives.
What things could we remove or avoid since they distract us from focusing on the Lord or doing the things He has asked of us?
How can we consecrate ourselves in that way?
Devote your whole being, which is said to be our reasonable worship.
12 “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;
13 and rend your hearts and not your garments.” Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love; and He relents over disaster.
When the 3 days had passed they were considered consecrated and ready to be in His presence.
11 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.
12 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.
13 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.”
Because God was on top of the mountain, it created “holy ground” just like with Moses at the burning bush.
4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.”
5 Then He said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”
God being on the mountain made holy ground, a place humans even though they cleaned themselves up as best they could, cannot cross the line to God!
Thankfully in the New Testament we can know Him and be in His presence anytime we want. Matthew 27:51
51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
He even tells us that He will take up residence in us. 1 Corinthians 3:16
16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?
In the New Testament we have the Holy Spirit to consecrate us.
When He makes a home in us, He begins cleaning the dark corners and the making it livable for Him; Changing us!
The Conviction of the Holy Spirit directs us to what needs to be repented of and brought to the Lord’s feet.
The motivation is to present ourselves holy and sanctified to the Lord.
The sanctification is repenting of it and laying it at the Lord’s feet and leaving it there!
Our sanctity rely’s on God’s grace every day!
Without His grace our consecration would be just “good works” or part of the self-help scenario, to make ourselves a “better person”.
As opposed to entirely changing us from the inside out.
Conclusion:
Being mature in our faith isn’t an age, it is the ability to learn the lessons God is teaching.
Are you focused on the past and desire to go back?
You might not be maturing.
Are you stagnant?
Maybe your missing the teachings of the Lord for your lives.
Our mindset will dictate how we respond to the tests and trials.
Don’t let the difficulties be iron bars.
Allow them to be opportunities for maturity!
As we live a life of dignity before the Lord we have confidence in all He allows in our lives.
Know and live in the confidence that He loves and desires the best for you.
His grace is enough for you, every moment of every day.
As you grow live a life that is sanctified and set apart to being a testimony for His goodness and grace!
Many can be blessed through you!
-Pray
