Transformed from Higher Ground

Welcome

Last time we met, we discussed God being trinitarian and we learned that He is relational. Relationships matter to God because of the relationship He has with himself via the Holy Spirit, Jesus, and Himself.

We also read and discovered this through John 17. Hope you were filled up reading that passage.

So tonight we’re gonna close up, as best we can, the topic of who God is and Pastor Matt is gonna open it up for us next Sunday talking about Jesus from Hebrews 1.

Tonight…

Is going to be very simple. As stated last time we met, the Bible says a whole lot about who and what God is. It’s very overwhelming and there’s no way we could possibly define all of Him into about 20-30 minutes. So here’s the game plan. I’ve found the most central thing about God that is the most consistent throughout all of Scripture and we’re gonna hammer that out until it is easy for us to enjoy.

It’s like this...

Right now we’re holding a thawed out NY Strip steak.

Looks great

Cooks great

It’s ain’t ready to eat! Except for some of you who can eat meat rare.

Let’s get the grill going, season it, cook it, and devour it! This is gonna be a good time! So let’s go...

**Article Regarding “Sloth”**

The Problem/Correlation: The abundance of God’s mercy on Israel created a slothful heart that didn’t worship. Abundance of social media/information has created a slothful heart that doesn’t worship. Who is this God and why should I know Him?

Our passage tonight...

Exodus 34:1–9 ESV

1 The Lord said to Moses, “Cut for yourself two tablets of stone like the first, and I will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke. 2 Be ready by the morning, and come up in the morning to Mount Sinai, and present yourself there to me on the top of the mountain. 3 No one shall come up with you, and let no one be seen throughout all the mountain. Let no flocks or herds graze opposite that mountain.” 4 So Moses cut two tablets of stone like the first. And he rose early in the morning and went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, and took in his hand two tablets of stone. 5 The Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the Lord. 6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” 8 And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped. 9 And he said, “If now I have found favor in your sight, O Lord, please let the Lord go in the midst of us, for it is a stiff-necked people, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

In the Exodus tonight...

EXODUS

What happened?

Who is involved?

Genesis 1:8 - Joseph? Who was that?

God raised up Moses.

Heard the cry of Israel.

10 Plagues.

Crossed the Red Sea!

Exodus begins

God provides water & food.

Guides them by pillar fire at night and cloud by day.

A unique scene. When Moses calls Moses up to Sinai.

Outline

Command - vs. 1

Readiness - vs. 2

Warning - vs. 3

Obedience - vs. 4

Revelation - vs. 5

Encounter/Experience - vs. 6-7

Worship/Confession - vs. 8-9

TEXT AIN’T REVEALING US TO DWELL ON THESE TOPICS

Truth from the Text: God affirming His promise. What glory! (Dwelling)

Exodus 19 ESV

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, 3 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: 4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. 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; 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.” 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. 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, 10 the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments 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.” 14 So Moses went down from the mountain to the people and consecrated the people; and they washed their garments. 15 And he said to the people, “Be ready for the third day; do not go near a woman.” 16 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. 17 Then Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they took their stand at the foot of the mountain. 18 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. 19 And as the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him in thunder. 20 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. 21 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. 22 Also let the priests who come near to the Lord consecrate themselves, lest the Lord break out against them.” 23 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.’ ” 24 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.” 25 So Moses went down to the people and told them.

Remember - Lightning, thunder, loud horn, smoke, and earthquake.

How can this God dwell with us? Let alone, be known? Good question.

We must understand the words described of God.

Exodus 34:6–7 ESV

6 The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”

Merciful, gracious, slow to anger, abounding in steadfast love/faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin...

By no means will clear the guilty, visiting iniquity of the fathers on teh children and the children’s children, to third and the fourth generation...

Your hearts should “burn within you,” at the sound of these words. Here’s how we understand today’s passage.

Ben Trueblood in his book, Student Ministry that Matters, wrote on a chapter called Character Transformation and the Word. In this chapter he wrote -

“Student ministry in large part has been content to spoon feed Scripture and application of that Scripture to students rather than teach them how to study the Bible for themselves. In an effort to help students understand the Bible and see that it can apply to life today, we have turned it into a roadmap for their lives. When the Bible becomes just a roadmap, ora list of rules, it becomes dull and boring. Students begin to see it as just one of the many textbooks or opinions that float in and out of their lives.

When we do this, we’re focusing on formation, cookie-cutter type students and christians. THAT’S NOT AT ALL HOW GOD MADE YOU OR US…instead we should be fixed on transformation.

2 Corinthians 3:18 says

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

Trueblood goes onto say…Students are going to be staring at something (like the phones we talked about earlier) and there are plenty of things for y’all to stare at/into.”

MacArthur Picture Quote Here*

Guys I’m praying we stare into this God who scared the mess out of the Israelites on Mount Sinai and revealed himself.

He can be known....We can be transformed.... Fix your hearts on Jesus Christ.