A Holy Encounter
From Bondage to Glory • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Call to Worship
Is 9:2
Call to Worship
Is 9:2
The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in the land of the shadow of death, The light will shine on them.
For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of Yahweh of hosts will accomplish this.
First Reading
First Reading
The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz beheld concerning Judah and Jerusalem.
Now it will be that In the last days The mountain of the house of Yahweh Will be established as the head of the mountains, And will be lifted up above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it.
And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Yahweh, To the house of the God of Jacob, That He may instruct us from His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For from Zion the law will go forth And the word of Yahweh from Jerusalem.
And He will judge between the nations, And will render decisions for many peoples; And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war.
Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of Yahweh.
Scripture and Prayer
Scripture and Prayer
A Song of Ascents. Of David.
I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go to the house of Yahweh.”
Our feet are standing Within your gates, O Jerusalem,
Jerusalem, which is built As a city joined altogether;
To which the tribes, the tribes of Yah, go up— A testimony for Israel— To give thanks to the name of Yahweh.
For there, thrones sit for judgment, The thrones of the house of David.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you.
“May peace be within your walls, And tranquility within your palaces.”
For the sake of my brothers and my friends, I will now say, “May peace be within you.”
For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.
Bible Passage: Exodus 19
Intro:
Intro:
Summary: In Ex 19-40, we see the details of what occured during the 11 months Israel stayed at Sinai. The Sinai wilderness is the setting for the rest of Exodus, all of Leviticus, and Num 1-10.
Here, Exodus 19 describes Israel's approach to Mount Sinai, where they are instructed to prepare themselves to meet God, emphasizing the holiness of God and the importance of being a consecrated people. The next phase of making Israel a nation begins here, in preparing for their holy encounter.
Application: God's holiness requires human preparation and believers are called to pursue holiness in their own lives as they engage with the presence of God.
We must understand the significance of preparing our hearts and lives for an encounter with God. Take holiness seriously and recognize that God desires a personal relationship with each of us, which requires certain preparations and a responsive heart.
1. Proclamation of God's Purpose
1. Proclamation of God's Purpose
In the third month after the sons of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on this day they came into the wilderness of Sinai.
Then they set out from Rephidim and came to the wilderness of Sinai and camped in the wilderness; and there Israel camped in front of the mountain.
They had been free for 3 months as God led them to Sinai. Here was the place He would finish shaping them and the nation they were to be through establishing His covenant and giving them the law:
moral, civil, and ceremonial.
First, the Covenant:
As they experienced this event, Israel would have recognized the pattern of a covenant, or treaty being formed by God.
He would be their suzerain, and they would be His Vassal.
Yahweh reigned on high over all Kingdoms and authorities.
He expected their obedience and service, and promised His blessings. He was their High King.
Structure:
Preamble, v. 3
Now Moses went up to God, and Yahweh called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob and tell the sons of Israel:
God called from the mountain, a fulfillment of the sign given to Moses at his call in Ex 3:12
And He said, “Certainly I will be with you, and this shall be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God at this mountain.”
He was now with the people assembled before the mountain of God!
House of Jacob… sons of Israel
The Lord reminds them they are descendants of Abraham through Isaac, and Jacob.
They had grown from a family to a nation!
Historical Prologue
‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I lifted you up on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.
God described the Exodus from Egypt and trip to Sinai with the metaphor of being carried on eagles’ wings.
This refers to how eagles carried their young out o fhte nests on their wings and taught them to fly. They would let them fall and attempt to fly by swoop in to rescue them when needed.
God had carried them out of Egypt, and was now ready to teach them to fly.
Certain Stipulations
‘So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the peoples, for all the earth is Mine;
IF….
Litle word with major impact
God sets the conditions for Israel
They were to:
Listen to His voice
Hear what He instructs
Through prophets and at this point, chiefly Moses.
(Today, we have the written word)
Keep His Covenant
Obey what He says
He is about to spell out His moral expecations 10 commandments. He will further describe to them how to approach and worship Him and how to run their civil affairs.
This condition is not just listen, but PRACTICE what God expects.
Blessings
‘So now then, if you will indeed listen to My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be My treasured possession among all the 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 sons of Israel.”
3 Titles:
My Own Possession
They would belong especially to God separate from all other people groups on Earth.
Kingdom of priests
Priesthood and holiness go together.
Priests were to help people offer sacrifices to God, acted as judges, and taught God’s law. Israel were to be a nation who did all 3.
They would represent Him to the world and the world to Him.
It was never to be an exclusive relationship. They were to draw the world to worship and glorify God.
Holy Nation
They were to be a nation set apart to the Lord and consecrated for His service.
Live righteous lives and act justly.
Today, all the redeemed are also a royal priesthood and holy nation
Presentation
So Moses came and called the elders of the people and set before them all these words which Yahweh had commanded him.
And all the people answered together and said, “All that Yahweh has spoken we will do!” And Moses brought back the words of the people to Yahweh.
Moses explained the covenant’s terms to the elders who in turn, explained it to the people.
Upon hearing GOD’s terms, the people answered, “We will do it!”
God did not take such a comittment lightly!
‘As for you, go near and hear all that Yahweh our God says; then speak to us all that Yahweh our God speaks to you, and we will hear and do it.’
“And Yahweh heard the voice of your words when you spoke to me, and Yahweh said to me, ‘I have heard the voice of the words of this people which they have spoken to you. They have done well in all that they have spoken.
‘Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep all My commandments all the days, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!
AP: Respond to GOD’s call
It is important to recognize God's calling and the response required of us.
He still calls us to obedient service. Our covenant with God is similar to Israel’s. We are grafted in to the blessings of God.
This sets the foundation for understanding that encountering God requires willingness and obedience.
There are parallels between God's covenant with Israel and Christ's new covenant with us.
Recall how Jesus extends this call to be His distinct people, beckoning us to prepare our hearts.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may approve what the will of God is, that which is good and pleasing and perfect.
We are to be different than the world. Our aim should be transformation from living like the world to living as God plans.
Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?
Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever?
Or what agreement has a sanctuary of God with idols? For we are a sanctuary of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean, And I will welcome you.
“And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty.
Compromise with the world will not work!
2. Preparation for Holiness
2. Preparation for Holiness
The preparations to meet the Holy Lord of Lords were to be taken seriously.
Yahweh said to Moses, “Behold, I will come to you in a thick cloud, so that the people may hear when I speak with you and may also believe in you forever.” Then Moses told the words of the people to Yahweh.
God would come to Moses visibly and speak audibly so the people would see and hear.
This was to prompt them to believe in Moses.
it would instill confidence that Moses was indeed send from God and represented God to the people.
Yahweh also said to Moses, “Go to the people and set them apart as holy today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments;
and let them be ready for the third day, for on the third day Yahweh will come down on Mount Sinai in the sight of all the people.
It would take 2 days to properly prepare. God was establishing the detail needed to be consecrated. You couldn’t lazily, stumble into being ready.
The inward preparation for meeting with God was mirrored in the outward actions of maintaining bodily cleanliness.
“And you shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death.
‘No hand shall touch him, but he shall surely be stoned or surely shot through; whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the ram’s horn sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”
The preparations of cleanliness, were followed by setting boundaries.
On pain of death, they were not to cross the boundary to touch the mountain.
Hebrews adds that even animals were to stay off the mountain:
For they could not bear what was being commanded, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned.”
So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and set the people apart as holy, and they washed their garments.
And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.”
Moses passed along the instructions and the people prepared to enter the Lord’s presence.
AP: In God’s Presence
We live in a different time.
God is far removed in the Spiritual realm. God the Holy Spirit resides within every believer!
We are called His sanctuary
Or do you not know that your body is a sanctuary of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own?
For you were bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.
We should remember that we are always in His presence
We should seek to live a life of purity
consecration and setting boundaries symbolizes the purification needed to encounter God's holiness.
They remind us of the personal spiritual disciplines in a believer's life that prepare us for experiencing God's presence today, drawing on Christ's work in sanctifying believers.
Common spiritual disciplines such as:
Prayer: Communicating with God
Worship: Expressing adoration for God
Study/Bible intake: Learning from scripture, such as Joshua 1:8
Service: Helping others
Meditation: Reflecting on spiritual truths
Fellowship: Gathering with other believers
3. Presence of God's Glory
3. Presence of God's Glory
So it happened on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled.
God made a dramatic entrance via thunder and lightening, a trumpet blast, and a thick cloud.
God made it plain that that something new and BIG was happening.
And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because Yahweh descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently.
And the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder; then Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder.
And Yahweh came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and Yahweh called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, “Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to Yahweh to see, and many of them perish.
“Also let the priests who come near to Yahweh set themselves apart as holy, lest Yahweh break out against them.”
And Moses said to Yahweh, “The people cannot come up to Mount Sinai, for You warned us, saying, ‘Set bounds about the mountain, and set it apart as holy.’”
Then Yahweh said to him, “Go down and come up again, you and Aaron with you; but do not let the priests and the people break through to come up to Yahweh, lest He break out against them.”
So Moses went down to the people and told them.
Moses brought the people out to the boundary.
He went to GOD again had him remind the people of the rules.
AP:
This illustrates the awe and reverence required when faced with His glory.
We can easily fall into ritual and loose the reverence due to familiarity.
Recognize that God is just as with us today as He was on Sinai!
This should motivate our worship.
This ultimately points to Christ, who mediates God's presence to us today
Conc
Conc
Let us acknowledge the privilege of being in God's presence through Christ.
Let this inform and motivate our worship.
Let us take this as seriously as the Israelites needed to do.
