WHY THE OLD TESTAMENT: LUKE 24:25-26

THE WORD TO OUR HEART: Why The Old Testament: Luke 24:25-26 Pastor John Weathersby Sunday May 5, 2019 The Old Testament History of life, of humanity, the birth and early life of the national people of Israel, and then - 300 years of silence and the New Testament begins with the gospel’s announcement of Jesus’ birth. It is in Hebrews 13:8 that we learn God is the same yesterday today and tomorrow. Hebrews 13:8 (ESV) 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. There is a movement that discounts the OT today - this is wrong, and more than wrong dangerous and damaging. Most recently According to The Christian Post, Stanley had used Acts 15 in a previous sermon describing how the early church decided that Gentile converts did not need to observe Jewish law to become Christians. "(First Century) Church leaders unhitched the Church from the worldview, value system, and regulations of the Jewish scriptures," said Stanley. "Peter, James, Paul elected to unhitch the Christian faith from their Jewish scriptures, and my friends, we must as well.” In his sermon, Stanley expressed his concern that many Christians are turning away from the faith because of certain passages in the Old Testament. He argues the early Church moved past the Old Testament for the sake of newly converted Gentile believers and that the resurrection of Jesus was their focus. I’d suggest you unhitch from Andy Stanley. When a “teacher” asks you to detach yourself from 75% of the Bible - your ears should perk up, and say wait what did you say? I want you to take your self back, a few thousand years - you’re walking with Jesus. Have you ever read one of my most favorite scriptures? Luke 24:32 (ESV) 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” The world that loved Jesus was so confused, the past days had been simply awful- Jesus was captured, tried, and crucified and now he is gone. These fellas are walking along - and they have a conversation with someone who opens up the scriptures and the ways it’s explained their hearts burned with excitement and passion for that word. 1 of 4 The Word To Our Heart: Why The Old Testament Pastor John Weathersby Transcend Church Sunday 5/3/2019 Now we’re reading from Luke 24:32 - what “scriptures”, did they open, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John? Acts, Romans - Revelation perhaps? It was the Old Testament - these books were the ONLY Bible they had. Even still today - our Bible the 66 books of the Old and New Testament are comprised of 75.55%, Old Testament, unhitch here and you’re left with but 24.45% of the revelation about God. The OT helps us accurately understand some of the most important teachings of the NT as a whole, without the Old Testament we would be in danger of a) not understanding or b) wrongly understanding, God. Jesus said that all OT Prophecy points to him: Luke 24:25–26 (ESV) 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” Luke’s story that we’re all over this morning in Luke 24 - reveals that Jesus’ method of showing himself to them, started with Moses and the prophets - as Christians we should enjoy becoming increasingly familiar with the OT stories because that’s to become increasingly familiar with the Messiah, Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:3–4 (ESV) 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, Again this assumption that we know “The Scriptures” and that we know his death, burial and resurrection” was spoken of in those - but - what “scriptures” were the Corinthians reading? Biblical letters were being written and not yet written any books after Christ were un-penned, and the Gospels we're playing out: this talks about the Old Testament. The entire narrative that the OT tells supplies this knowledge of the scriptures that as a whole reveal God’s plan of salvation. I pray that our heart begin to burn as we see New Testament believers in Christ start to unlock the OT scriptures. Here are a few examples that should get you excited: In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul (who’s letter to Timothy in 1 Timothy we just finished studying) looks back to the OT story of Exodus and reveals a typology to us. Meaning, some of the OT was foreshadowing to the story revealed in the NT. In this instance 1 Corinthians 10:4 we read, 1 Corinthians 10:4 (ESV) “they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.” This is Paul under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit revealing the OT narrative pointing forward to Christ. The rock gave them life when they were without hope in the desert - so often the OT nation was lost and without hope and God would spring forward and provide a thriving life for them, here we see that image is of Jesus as relief and life. IN Romans 15:4 we read: Romans 15:4 (ESV) 2 of 4 The Word To Our Heart: Why The Old Testament Pastor John Weathersby Transcend Church Sunday 5/3/2019 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. A wise man once said, “we move to the OT we better be thinking of application and not just history”. So what is the OT’s application and some pitfalls to watch out for 1) It’s application is helping us understand in more detail God and His character. 2) To watch out for, allegorizing everything We would have headed next to 2 Timothy. Consider this passage: 2 Timothy 3:15–17 (ESV) Paul asks Timothy to consider: 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. Remember - what Bible was Timothy familiar with? The OT 1 Corinthians 10:11 (ESV) 11 Now these things happened to them as an example, but they were written down for our instruction, on whom the end of the ages has come. I hope you see the cross play between these two, Old and New. That distinction is to help us remember that its revelation before Christ and after Christ so we can rightly look at shadows, or light. Truth obscured verses truth revealed. They tell one story - one baptism, one lord. NT writers quoted from the old 1 Timothy 5:17–18 (ESV) 17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. 18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” This quotes from Deuteronomy 25:4, I hope we’re driving home the importance of the OT. In fact, if I had to pick an absolutely favorite book - it would be Hosea - an OT book. Deuteronomy 25:4 (ESV) 4 “You shall not muzzle an ox when it is treading out the grain. Stay hitched, church. In fact, hitch tighter, let your heart burn, and ask, like that wise teacher said - how does it apply to me, how do I understand It was that world you put me in God. 3 of 4 The Word To Our Heart: Why The Old Testament Pastor John Weathersby Transcend Church Sunday 5/3/2019 Recently I read this on Twitter- The chief danger to 21st Century Christianity isn't Feminism, Fascism, LGBTism, or Islam. The biggest threat is our own laziness after God. Blessed. Blessed are those. Not renewed or redeemed. But blessed. I read a book with my daughter Wednesday night it said the following about sin and about sin and about Adam and eves sin... {pic of book}. 4 of 4 The Word To Our Heart: Why The Old Testament Pastor John Weathersby Transcend Church Sunday 5/3/2019