Holiness Through Obedience
The Going Forth - From Slavery To Freedom • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Transcript
Reading:
21 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: “Add your burnt offerings to your sacrifices, and eat the flesh.
22 For in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to your fathers or command them concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices.
23 But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you.’
Introduction:
Have you ever used a cheaply made tool or product?
In the construction industry there were some on the jobsite that brought their own saw.
It was typically an older black and decker circular saw..
Typically that saw would last about 3 days.
It wasn’t designed for the abuse that every day construction workers could dish out.
Illustrate the things that happened to saws, nail guns, hammers, etc...
We labeled those types of saws as “homeowner” tools, compared to job site tools.
There was a durability difference and also a difference of quality.
Some tools are made cheaply and are typically inexpensive.
Some tools are designed with the everyday worker in mind and are expensive.
Anyone can design something to work; but it doesn’t mean the quality is the same, it all depends on the one engineering it.
God was the engineer behind the Tabernacle and all it’s furniture and His design for His tent is much different from all others.
In Exodus 39 we find a difference of quality because God designed it.
If a part fails on a car and after inspection, they find that the manufacturer didn’t uphold the engineers design parameters, the fault is the manufacturers not the designers.
With the finishing of all the items and parts to the Tabernacle, we get the picture that Holiness is possible by obedience according to the Great engineers designs.
Transition:
We first in Exodus 39 have the details of:
The Outer Garments (1-5)
The Outer Garments (1-5)
Moses had instructions for how to make the garments for the Priests and this is what they did:
1 From the blue and purple and scarlet yarns they made finely woven garments, for ministering in the Holy Place. They made the holy garments for Aaron, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
They crafted together the garments for the Priests entering the presence of the Lord.
Last week we mentioned the very obvious reality that there is a correct way to come to God.
Through Atonement by a blood sacrifice and washing in the laver mediated by Aaron and his family.
Aaron the Priest and all in his lineage had been called into ministry full time.
This ministry set them apart from everyone else.
Their whole lives were to be dedicated to care for the people , to represent them before the Lord.
Their everyday lives being lived in agreement with God’s holiness.
Their calling set them apart, and so did their uniforms for ministering.
Everyone would’ve noticed a difference between the priests clothes and everyone else’s.
Every country could see that these men weren’t like everyone else, they are different.
People would notice, just like they should notice that our lives aren’t like everyone else's.
Did you know the moment you join the family of the Lord you are made a priest?
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.
Connection:
Each and every one of our lives are dedicated to the Lord instead of the things our culture makes normal.
Because we know the Lord, we know that we are clothed in righteousness, Jesus’ righteousness and not our own.
That should keep us humble.
Knowing it’s by His perfection over our failures that sets us apart from society.
Point:
We are to wear the proper ascribed clothes, just like the Priests.
What’s the proper attire for us?
Righteousness!
Righteousness should be our new way of life, how we live day in and day out.
Not sure what that is?
Righteousness is defined as:
“Purity of heart and rectitude of life; conformity of heart and life to the divine law.” -Noah Webster
“It is an equivalent to holiness, comprehending holy principles and affections of heart, and conformity of life to the divine law. It includes all we call justice, honesty and virtue, with holy affections; in short, it is true religion.” -Noah Webster
Because the definitions make it clear as mud, what are some examples of lives according to righteousness?
Abraham: Exemplifies faith and obedience to God, trusting in the promises.
Joseph: Shows integrity and purity, choosing righteousness over personal gain or temptation.
Job: Maintains moral integrity amid suffering, reflecting a steadfast faith.
Daniel: Demonstrates personal devotion and uncompromising faith in a morally corrupt culture.
Jesus Christ: The ultimate model of sinless righteousness, teaching and living love, service, and obedience to God
He did so:
Through action: Selfless service, honesty, and kindness.
Through words: Speaking encouragement, truth, and grace, avoiding harmful or deceitful speech (Eph. 4:29).
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
Through decisions: Aligned choices with biblical principles, sought justice, and served others faithfully.
Through relationships: Surrounding Himself with morally and spiritually uplifting influences, and foster accountability, mentorship, and encouragement.
Our proper attire is choosing by faith to live a life that is “morally pure” according to the Lord.
Our lives will reveal that we are set-aside from cultural norms and societies standards.
We will be different; as Priests that the world sees on behalf of Christ! (ambassadors)
Transition:
This priestly role doesn’t just impact Aaron and his family, they are the priests ON Behalf of all Israel.
They not only are supposed to wear the proper attire they are to carry out their duty for all Israel.
On Behalf Of (6-31)
On Behalf Of (6-31)
6 They made the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold filigree, and engraved like the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the sons of Israel.
7 And he set them on the shoulder pieces of the ephod to be stones of remembrance for the sons of Israel, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Notice the stones on the shoulders..
Is there significance to have them on the shoulders?
Is there a specific reason that all the names for the tribes of Israel to be on them?
It seems to illustrate the duty of the High Priest.
Every time they put on the Ephod and it’s straps, with the 2 stones on the shoulders, it would provide 2 things:
ONE: To be reminded that you are bringing with you all tribes of Israel into the presence of the Lord, representing them.
TWO: Carrying weight of all families and tribes spiritual position as they are interceding on behalf of them.
Each and every priest is the mediator between Israel and God.
Just let that sink in for a moment...When they obey the way to worship God they are representing the people to God, and when they don’t they also represent the people to God.
Their decision is impactful.
There needed to be a reminder of the weight they carried and the seriousness to their calling.
We as priests don’t carry that weight into the presence of the Lord.
In the N.T. there is an addition to this representation.
We can intercede on behalf of others to the Lord; but the weight isn’t as heavy.
The weight that we carry is now in how we are representing the Lord to people.
Illustration:
Growing up there were a lot of Disney movies and one in particular will help me illustrate part of this.
Mary Poppins had a song: “A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down”.
How does this connect?
God extended grace and love to the world and the best way to relay that message is to boldly present the truth: “Your dead in your sins and your going to hell!”
Tell them the truth, Right?
The way we present Jesus’ grace can be the sugar that helps others receive the harsh truth.
We are instructed how to best represent Him.
16 “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
Our speech should be seasoned with salt, and our actions should be with care bring a soul back to God.
Know that there is a seriousness in carrying the burden of grace to the lost.
The priests carried all tribes in with them; but they also were given another garment.
8 He made the breastpiece, in skilled work, in the style of the ephod, of gold, blue and purple and scarlet yarns, and fine twined linen.
9 It was square. They made the breastpiece doubled, a span its length and a span its breadth when doubled.
10 And they set in it four rows of stones. A row of sardius, topaz, and carbuncle was the first row;
11 and the second row, an emerald, a sapphire, and a diamond;
12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
13 and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in settings of gold filigree.
14 There were twelve stones with their names according to the names of the sons of Israel. They were like signets, each engraved with its name, for the twelve tribes.
The Ephod carried stones where individual names for each tribe was inscribed on them were set into a Gold square plate.
Each tribe was part of this furniture and when worn covers the vital organs of the priest, especially the one that gives life, like the heart.
The Ephod also had on it bells of pure gold, pomegranates of blue, purple, and scarlet.
Both of these features could point to the spiritual fruit and testimony.
Connection:
Both of which are to be included into our lives as priests too.
Is there more spiritual fruit in your life now, than there was at the moment of salvation?
Each year we should be growing in our faith, our understanding, and firmer convictions directing what choices we make.
Each of these will testify of the change in our spiritual position.
Sparking questions from those who know you best about why you are changing, while they stay the same.
Illustration:
It’s kind of like going to a reunion where you haven’t seen people in a while.
Family reunion
High School Reunion, etc...
Hopefully you are a much different person then you once were.
Not just personality; but the convictions you live by.
Point:
We are always moving a direction, backwards or forwards; but never stagnant.
It’s a journey and there is a reward for this journey when we see Jesus.
We get this picture in the priests.
The priests were given coats and a turban; both of fine linen.
27 They also made the coats, woven of fine linen, for Aaron and his sons,
28 and the turban of fine linen, and the caps of fine linen, and the linen undergarments of fine twined linen,
29 and the sash of fine twined linen and of blue and purple and scarlet yarns, embroidered with needlework, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
30 They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it an inscription, like the engraving of a signet, “Holy to the Lord.”
The Turban would be a covering with a “crown”.
The Gold crown had an inscription: “Holy to the Lord” as a identifier that the priest is wholly set aside to the Lord.
Illustration:
Throughout scripture there are many crowns talked about.
Promised to those who endure temptations James 1:12
Imperishable crown to those who run their race well. 1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Crown of Righteousness
Crown of Glory
Crown of Rejoicing...Many many crowns.
There is a spot where crowns are talked about that are above all other crowns.
12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He himself.
Jesus here is said to be wearing many crowns, which points to the simple fact that He is over all the world in His royalty, not just a few nations.
He is the King of Kings.
Connection:
Because He is a King and we are His children we are given crowns; but in His presence we will cast our crowns at His feet because He is the reason we have them.
He is worthy, we aren’t.
He is the priest interceding on behalf of us to the Lord.
Jesus carries us into the presence of the Lord.
Jesus bears our names before the Lord.
The priests in the tabernacle were the shadow of things to come.
They pointed forward to Christ and His intercession.
How do we represent Christ to the people?
Tell people of the burdens He has lifted from you, and why He is worth your faith and trust.
Maybe they will ask how to receive His grace.
Transition:
Representation is the picture from their dress attire, it is all to be followed as the Lord instructed.
Everything was:
Built as Directed (32-43)
Built as Directed (32-43)
32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of meeting was finished, and the people of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses; so they did.
33 Then they brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent and all its utensils, its hooks, its frames, its bars, its pillars, and its bases;
It was all finished and brought to Moses for inspection.
It proved to be quality, according to the Lord’s instructions.
Moses saw, inspected, measured, and checked the details according to the Lord’s command.
I believe he did this with a fine toothed comb!
Why?
Moses desired to make sure that all of the Lord’s details were adhered to, in order to reveal that God’s words are the most important, even to the smallest details!
The work is done to the glory of Yahweh.
42 According to all that the Lord had commanded Moses, so the people of Israel had done all the work.
43 And Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it; as the Lord had commanded, so had they done it. Then Moses blessed them.
The finished work is inspected, and approved - To the Glory of Yahweh.
Obedience is worship.
Connection:
This isn’t much different from our future inspection.
Jesus says that the Lord will divide the goats from the sheep.
This can be seen as an inspection into whether or not the Lord’s instructions were obeyed.
Does this mean keeping all of the laws?
I don’t think so, I would lean more towards the simplest acts of obedience:
Receiving the atonement for sins and weather or not we are clothed in Jesus’ righteousness.
The inspection is going to be determined by what we placed our faith in, what we trusted in for our acceptance.
Our works and obedience to the law and being a “good person”.
-OR-
His work and our obedience to accept that grace and direct our lives according to His leading?
Point:
In what ways are you relying on your own actions?
Is our worship according to what we think it should be, or is it according to what He has prescribed as worthy worship?
Right now and every day after right now, you have the opportunity to inspect your life and measure it according to the Lord’s will.
If there is areas where you don’t measure up..now is when you can be changed, after death it is too late to change.
Take your shortcomings into His presence and seek help from Him to change that part of your life, today is the time for that opportunity.
With the Tabernacle finished the Lord would be available to them to enter His presence by making atonement for their sins and to be washed clean from their sin.
Conclusion:
Jesus made this connection possible through His sacrifice and in the tabernacle we find that:
Holiness is possible through obedience.
Obedience isn’t followed because we are robots...
It is from faith in what Jesus said was proper worship and we believe Him.
This week know that you have outer garments of Righteousness given to you by Jesus.
So walk in righteousness!
Because you are wearing His righteousness, you are set-apart from the world and dedicated to Him.
Be different in thoughts, choices, and convictions that dictate your choices.
Live in the hope that when you pass on into eternity, you are inspected and are numbered among His sheep that know His voice!
-Pray!
