2019-12-15-LIVE OAKS - Close, but ... - Part 3

On your heart and what should be written on hours. These are these are just words if you're Holy Spirit does not know. It's there just words. If you're Holy Spirit didn't you know Inspire them and it's still just words if you're Holy Spirit doesn't reside in the flow through them. So we're going to read some words from this booking and I pray that the only word spoken are yours this morning speak through me if you can stick around me if you have to but speak and give us the ears to secure you were so good. And I'm so excited about celebrating you Lord Jesus in your name. We pray I meant so we've been on a little journey of Understanding God's closeness with men and what we found so far is that throughout the scriptures throughout all of time there have been times where God was close, but Close but so far away. That's why the ends with a little ellipses. It's it's close but not close enough. It's closed. But and we we've been to a garden and we see that God was close with man, but they had they had a real.

They don't real knowledge of God that they knew what he sounded like they knew they liked his present, but they did not let didn't know his character the new the sound of his steps, but not the content of his character. They didn't know his power. They didn't know his Holiness. They didn't know his awesome might they didn't know his Justice didn't know his grace. So while they enjoyed a close personal walk with him, but didn't lead to tuna biting knowledge of him we've been across the the Red Sea into the foot of Mount Sinai and we've seen that Moses and God's people that they grew in knowledge of his might and his Justice and his power like what Adam and Eve lacked in their Walks With God the Israelites and especially Moses think they became very keenly familiar with God's power and his Justice and even his Wrath a easy thing to do. I raised you up for this very purpose that my glory might be made known through you like raised up Egypt and farro to pour out Justice and red. Like the Keepers were front row seats to the Wrath and and might and an awesomeness of God, but They didn't have a close personal walk with him from last week. They weren't even allowed to look at the mountain that God Spirit reside upon they couldn't even look at them out and touch it or they would die. So while they had knowledge of his might and his power for his character that they had no real intimate relationship with him. And then this week we go to a tent so we went from a garden to a mountain and now to a tense and it was briefly mentioned last week. But in Exodus 33 starting in first 7 this describes kind of dubbed the relationship that Moses had with God. No Moses used to take the tent and pitch a new microphone through no pressure, but the offering basket stays open.

No Moses used to take the tent and Pitch it outside the camp. See it far off from the camp and he called it the tent of meeting. You want to know why? Cuz that's where Moses would be God. I just making sure your phone along. And everyone who sought the Lord would go out to the tent of meeting which was outside the camp, but but looked as they didn't go into the tent Moses stood on on their behalf. The Moses was allowed to go in a tent. Whenever Moses verse 8 went out to the 10th all the people would rise up and each would stand at his tent door and watch Moses until he had gone into the tent. When Moses enter the the pillar of cloud would descend and stand at the entrance of the tent and the Lord would speak with Moses. And when all the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance of the tent all the people would rise up and worship each at his tent door. That's the Lord used to speak to Moses face-to-face as a man speaks to his friend now understand that the meeting face-to-face that that is a turn of phrase in the Hebrew. It doesn't mean that God and Moses Woodloch eyes together. It meant that there they would have conversation. It was different from like the top of Mount Sinai experience where God spoke in in in in in Sundre bolts and lightning very very frightening like he would he would speak to Moses with words as a friend would speak to another but as we're going to see soon this is this is not face-to-face intimate communication, but it is conversation.

Escaping, aren't you continuing and verse 12 Moses said to the Lord? See you say to me bring up those people, but you have not let me know whom you will send with me yet. You have said I know you by name and you have also found favor in my sight now therefore if I have found favor in your sight, please show me now your ways that I may know you and where to find favor in your sight consider tooth that this nation is your people. And he said my presence will go with you. And I will give you rest. And he said to him if your presence will not go with me do not bring us up from here. For how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight eye and your people? Is it not you're going with us? So that we are distinct. I and your people from every other people on the face of the Earth. There is it. There's a truth in these few verses that I I feel I think could be very important for you.

It's it's not obvious. But I think there's a truth in here that could really lead you to Liberty. It's in my notes and fold big all caps Liberty and that seems like an odd word in this sermon or a Christmas series Liberty that's like for July or something and we could I don't know say something America Liberty is the word. That was pressed on me. That you can find Liberty in the truth that's revealed here. Now some of you are and come from a long line of God loving lawyers. That is a creature that exists III no one. What I mean by God loving lawyers is that you you have been raised in the faith and you have been walking in the face. I'm saying you believe in Jesus you love him and you want to please him and you have been walking the faith, but you were raised and you're walking believing that it's your adherence to the law that makes you worthy. It's your adherence so that it really is the one that makes you righteous. Even if it's that one law that you followed that you have to believe in Jesus and you and you believed in him. So you earned it you did it but it's it's up your walking on a tightrope. And you can't hear off.

Right, you can't stumble. Why you got to get up in the morning? You got focused you got to make those Knuckles White? You got to live it. or

here's where Moses tells us that we can have Liberty. Here's the truth that he understand that can bring you Liberty. It's in verse 15.

And he said to him. This is Moses talking to God if your presence will not go with me do not bring us up from here. He says whatever promise you made whatever blessings you're going to Dole out, whatever whatever whatever if you're not there. I don't want it.

Now we know it's especially those of us who have been raised in the faith. We know I mean, you've heard it you believe it. You're like, yeah, I believe that you you know that you're that you're not, you know righteous. You know that you can't be holy. No, can I seem to be the idea that seems to be what I really need to do? I mean, I know technically I can't but but maybe it's like all right. I'll just call him and maybe some kind of Mormon idea of Salvation where you do all the righteous that you can and then Jesus will like pay the rest of the tab, but you have to get as far as you can go first, and then you get the get out of hell free card.

That's not Liberty. That's slavery. That's bondage that to Egypt. But that's not that's not why you were saying it is for Freedom that you have been set free. And here's the freedom with God. You're with him you have his presence now. It seems like even if it was possible to live perfectly. Even if it was possible that perfectly if that didn't equal presents with God, what would be the point?

Perfection without presents is pointless. Guess what Chris? What is it brain?

Moses knows this it's either going to be with you God or or or just let us die here.

That is The Local Yolk of slavery that I want to fall off your neck. Even if it were possible to follow the rules perfectly. What is that? Perfect rule-following still resulted and living life away from God.

verse 16 for how shall it be known that I have found favor in your sight. I injure people. Is it not in your going with us? So that we are distinct what Moses and I don't want the world to know us as the as the world Falls lowers. I want us to be known as the people who follow God who are with him. I am sure people from every other people on the face of the Earth Moses. Once this people to be a distinct people and what he wants to be distinct about. This people is God's presence not just God's rules but his presence. Moses says the distinction I want is your presence. I want you to be with me. I want you to be with us. I don't want other nations to say there goes Israel the most perfect people to walk the earth. I want the nation's to say there goes Israel the people with whom God abides.

Do you want Perfection or do you want presents? I want presents. Christmas is about presents. I just occurred to me.

Also not in the nuts.

What is your motivation for wanting to be found Flawless some of us want to be found flawless? Perfectionism Iowa's called random onset perfectionism. It's more of a curse than a blessing really what this means is I will become a randomly obsessed with the Perfection of something that no one else cares. Does not benefit me at all you guys seen.

Like last night. I wanted to be like Don't lie to me. You guys saw that I changed the the spotlight in the back right corner. Good 15°. It really enhance the old I'll be honest of the you saw that right. We don't have to talk about it. I know you saw it.

Do I want to hear that are not know?

What is your motivation for wanting to be found Flawless trying to earn something from God a trophy you can't. You were born Seventy Times 7 miles behind in that race in a marathon of perfection in which you begin imperfect. It's impossible to cross the finish line. Even if you lived and ran for nine hundred years of flawless miles your righteousness would still be filthy rags.

Now you have neither you have neither Perfection nor presents.

You and I and Moses know the futility of living the rules without the presence of the rule Giver. The only motivation acceptable to God for living according to the righteous standard of God is to honor the God who set the righteous standard. That's our only motivation for doing right for doing good for being Sprinter living as a righteously as I can be. Holy as he is Holy.

People say you know what I call I was just going to let you just that's just going to leave it Christians run around all higgly-piggly doing everything they want to do. I want to live righteous. I want to represent the one who saved me to redeem me. I want to represent the righteousness.

the Christ lived I'm declared righteous. So I want to live it.

We've been declared righteous. Why would we didn't roll in the in the dirt in the mud? Why would we do that? We are called to represent him. Remember our ripped the original purpose of mankind was to be image bearers of God. The father says you are covered in the righteousness of the Sun that does not give me permission to do whatever I want to do that sets me free to live righteously. Now we can honor him not earn but honor that's just the bottom line.

Not to earn but to honor. In verse 17 and the Lord said to Moses this very thing that you have spoken I will do.

I mean I had some really cool conversations in my life where I have presented an idea and they've immediately said that's a fantastic idea. Let's do that are awesome moments. I don't know if you had any of its. Can you imagine such as Bane? That does not happen very often. Moses says look. If if you're not going to go with us, then I don't want to go and Moses says I'll be with you.

This very thing that you have spoken I will do listen for you have found favor in my sight. And I know you by name. Moses found favor with God When you ask someone hey, can you do me a favor what you're really saying is hey, you don't owe me this. I don't even necessarily deserve this, but would you do this for me anyway? No one says hey Tom. Can you do me a favor? Can you pay your bill like unless they're being super sarcastic. Which I kind of half aplauden in half the floor but like no one says, can you do me a favor? Can you give me what you owe me? That's not a favor, right? That's just Justice. That's just what's right? God says I'm going to favor you. Do some favor with me. That means Grace. That's what it means when Noah found favor with God. That's God's grace.

That's it for you have found favor in my sight. And I know you by name meaning I know everything about you Moses yet. I'm still going to pour out favor on you. That's not grey side. That's the very definition of Grace. So so many peoples I've just black. I'm heartbroken for them. They yum.

Lego mean God me and got me and got you some good poetry about God mean God mean God mean God made God mean God mean God mean God weird. Scary prophetic mean God mean God man-god confusing minor Prophet mean God. I'm going to get it last night or property says the thing about pouring out a blessing from heaven like that one who nice God Matthew who we can start here and then you just have to kind of you going to have to read rather selectively because Jesus will say things like I don't know pick up the cross and follow me to your certain death who wants to join me.

Sounds like me. It's gracious God. gracious God from the first to the last words of gracious God

And God says Moses. I know you and yet I'm going to pour so much grace through you.

I pray sometimes you feel like Moses. I pray I pray you have that experience of of of knowing that God knows you everything about you yet. He still.

Portal favor Grace blessing not Justice. Thank you. God you don't pour out your Justice on me. Put it on him.

Got to say Moses. I have willed to deal with you graciously. I know you I have set my seal upon you I Know Who You Are.

Moses he's bald. Brother brother brother Moses is bold.

He continues in verse 18 He says please Show Me Your Glory.

I mean, I always have I always have to over over enunciate this that's a big ask. Have you heard of that description? It's a big ask. Not this is a big ask of God. God Show Me Your Glory. I got is already agreed for his presence tube to be in amongst his and through his people moving forward into that don't you know like when you stop when you're ahead? The Moses is gold bless him. He's Bold And he says please show me your glory and he said I will make all my goodness pass before you and I will Proclaim before you my name the Lord Yahweh. I know your name is Moses. Now. You know my name it's Yahweh. And I let my goodness pass before you I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious. I will show Mercy on whom I will show Mercy, but he said you cannot see my face. For man shall not see me and live. And the Lord said behold, there's a place by me where you shall stand on the rock. That can't be an accident. And while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of The Rock and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed.

Then I will take away my hand and you will see my back. But my face shall not be seen. In our family we ditched cable and you know, we stream all the shows and everything and on these streaming services. If you don't if you're not willing to pay, you know, the four more dollars every month, you have to endure advertising and I was watching just the most innocent thing with Judah and the other kids and end this this promo came up for a show. That's like just black and dumb and I covered you desire. And he was like that. And I'm covering his eyes and I'm pulling him closer to me. That we gave you do it. I'm covering your eyes Judah. I'm covering your eyes why you can't see that's why I'm protecting you. I'm guarding you. That's my job on your father. But God had to protect Moses from himself.

His glory is too much write his full glory is too much. So God himself with his own hand. Had the shield Moses from himself.

But Moses because of Grace because of favor was allowed to see the wake of God's goodness. Don't you just love that God's walking and goodness is just in his wake. You've been in the water, I grew up in a in a in a in a beautiful land with four full seasons and in lakes in North Carolina and my friend at Lake Bob and around in the water and the life jackets and then all of a sudden it's all still and everything to them. It's like broom broom right in that Ripple. That's What God Says like look Moses If I hold you and shield you. If you can Bob in the wake of the goodness of my glory, but no you cannot see me.

It would ruin you.

Because of God's grace upon Moses and by God's protecting hand upon Moses. He was allowed to see God's back and stand in his wake. Which the Lord himself called his goodness? But Moses cannot be allowed to see the full radiant glory of God because it would kill him. So now we see that presents without Perfection is also close, but it would kill you. Moses is not. Holy. He's had grace and favor poured out upon him, but he's not wholly. got his in the glory of his Holiness would would straight up Indiana Jones face melt him.

present without Perfection is also close but the Garden close but the Mountain close but the tent close but but what about the womb?

And that's where we are right now. That's where we're moving. We're we're skipping a lot of the Angry God stuff. All right.

Heading right to the Gospels.

Luke 1 starting a verse 26 in the six month fun. It's a six-month of of John the Baptist of Elizabeth pregnancy in the 6-month. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth to Virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph of the House of David and The Virgins name was Mary. And he came to her and said Greetings. Oh favored one. The Lord is with you. But she was greatly troubled at the same and try to discern what sort of greeting this might be and the angel said to her. Listen to the to the echoing chorus here. Do not be afraid Mary for you have found favor with God. And behold you will conceive in your womb and bear a son and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the son of the most high and the Lord God will give him the Throne of his father David and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever and of his kingdom. There will be no end and Mary said to the angel how will this be since I am a virgin?

The angel answered her the holy spirit will come upon you and the power of the most high will overshadow you.

There for the child to be born will be called. Holy.

the son of God behold your relative Elizabeth and her old age has also conceived to son and this is the 6-month with her who was called bearing. She was called. That's not what she was.

For nothing will be impossible with God. And Mary said behold, I am the servant of the Lord let it be to me according to your word and the angel departed from her.

This is new.

Holy spirit of God will overshadow her.

When her great-great-great couldn't even look at the shadow. Of the spirit of God hovering over a mountain.

They couldn't even go into a tent. where the holy spirit of God rested and the same holy spirit of God will over Shadow her and place inside of her.

very Son of God himself This is new. And in this story up to about you know.

six months prior God was basically mute for four centuries for 400 years. God was silent with his people. The temple was there. The sacrifices were being made that the high priest at the day of a it was all happening living according to the law. It was all happening and yet God was silent.

Until Zechariah was serving in the temple and Luke 1:11 through 17 and there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense and Zechariah was troubled when he saw him and fear fell upon him. But the angel said to him. Any guesses do not be afraid Zachariah for your prayer has been heard and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son and you shall call his name John. And you will have joy and gladness and many Will Rejoice at his birth for he will be great before the Lord. He must not drink wine or strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit.

No room for wine or strong drink is tanks only full of the Holy Ghost even from his mother's womb. And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah. To turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just to make a ready for the Lord a people prepared. Or all of that Mary having Jesus in and suck Araya and Elizabeth in the coming of John the Baptist who preached repentance to prepare the way of the Lord all of that is summarized so beautifully and grandly poetically in John 1. 1 through 18 I'm here for much longer. I might just come up and just start reading just Bible. I'm sorry rather read his word. John 1 1 through 18

I mean the grandness of this IP cannot overstate.

Jung Jung one has it has been a

Has been a rock. Forgot to hold me in the truth of this. Don't let it pass you by holy spirit of God. Give us the ears to hear. In the beginning was the word. And the Word was with God the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

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this is the written word of God. He is the word.

He was in the beginning with God all things were made through him. And without him was not anything made that was made in him was life and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness and the Darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to Bear witness about the light that all might believe through him. He was not the light but came to bear witness about the light the True Light which gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world and the world was made through him. So what?

He was in the world and the world was made through him. Get the world did not know him. He came to his own and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him who believed in his name he gave the right to become children of God.

Who are born?

Not imply. Nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the word became flesh.

The word did not dress up in the flesh. The word did not cause play another youngster term. The organ that cosplay as flesh. The word became flesh.

dwelt Among Us and we have seen his glory

not just a fleeting glimpse of his goodness. We have seen his glory glory as of the only son from the father full of grace and truth.

What a word that is for the church today.

All of that church, they're so full of grace that never once judge me. I love that church. They stand on the word and they tell it like it is.

Grace and Truth Church

If we're the Church of Jesus, we are the Church of Grace and Truth. righteousness and Grace

John bore witness about him and cried out this was he of whom I said he who comes after me ranks before me because he was before me.

For from his fullness. We have all received Grace upon Grace upon Grace upon Grace upon Grace for the law was given through Moses. Grace and Truth came through Jesus Christ No one has ever seen God the only God who is that the father's side. He has made him now. Jesus has made the father known the face of Jesus is the face of God.

The lights in the work the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus is the glory of God.

We want to see his glory. We need to see his son. God with us Emmanuel.

in in this incarnation this incarnation of of of of of of Eternal becoming

of awesome becoming soul.

fragile that amazing mysterious Beyond us truth

That is something amazing that something new that something miraculous after Millennia of man trying to claw their way back to the Garden to walk with God in the cool of the day. God reaches man in the cool of night. as a man born of a woman light not just a sermon. Not just a reflection. But the reality the True Light pierces the darkness. Did you know that they have now discovered there is a flash of light at the moment of conception.

Captured it on on video. I seen it.

It's like this spark of lightning. It's what happens at the moment a baby is conceived and as a person and is valuable and has a rights and should be loved and cared for.

but imagine

imagine the spark In that blessed woman's womb. when by the power of the Holy Spirit God himself in the flesh is can see

Can you imagine the flash of True Light in the womb of Mary? Can you imagine? the mind of Christ the consciousness of Jesus growing becoming aware Hearing in the womb the voices of Mary and Joseph Not knowing the words for he hadn't learned them yet, but hearing the pitch and Cadence and tone of Mary's motherly comforting voice. The Voice he crafted for himself to hear Can you imagine Jesus feeling hunger? Is hunger remember is a what is a sermon? Of the need and desire of man to need and desire God he designs hunger so that he can preach a sermon declaring that he is food yet here. He is feeling and experiencing that which he designed. Can you imagine looking through Eyes For the First Time locking eyes with the eyes he sculpted and painted to be the first eyes that he would see.

The miracle of the Incarnation is indescribable. God tells Moses I'm going to hold you in the cleft of The Rock and with my hands Shield your eyes from the white-hot glory of my face and yet here is Mary with her hands holding him. God held by man. Can you imagine the humility of Jesus?

I don't I don't want to get too graphic. But we have to understand according to the law women during their time had to be separate from the camp until they were cleansed. And here is God being cleansed after his birth by the hands that the law would rightly declare. Unclean.

We don't know about humility. We don't know it. This is new. This is new. You are mine desnuda mind is new to the mind of man. We cannot comprehend it.

This very idea is so foreign but not to God. It was the plan from before the beginning.

At from that very first flash of True Light in that favored womb everything changed.

Luke chapter 1 starting a verse 39 and those days Mario rose and went with haste Into the Hill Country to a town in Judah and she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth and when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary the baby John left in her womb And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. And she exclaimed with a loud cry blessed. Are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb? And why is this granted to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me for behold when the sound of your greeting came to my ears the baby in my womb left for joy? And blessed is she who believed that there would be as a filament of what was spoken to her from the Lord.

God In the Flesh was present in the flesh of Mary.

At the very Nearness of Mary's voice. The spirit of Jesus is unborn presence.

The holy spirit of God flowed through the spirit of John like a conduit of joy and filled his mother's spirit and manifested In Praise. Blessed are you among women?

I mean I close my eyes and the Holy Spirit of God comes out of Eternity is incarnated in the flesh. And so he was God In the Flesh growing in Mary's flesh and Mary approaches Elizabeth. Mary says greetings Elizabeth. So the holy spirit of God from eternity through the womb through Mary's voice travels through the air into Elizabeth ears down into the Flesh of John. Into the spirit of John and the spirit of John responds to that presents. Backup through Elizabeth and explained it gets claimed. I'm not even worthy to stand in the presence of the voice of the woman carrying the holy spirit of God. Who am I to stand in this spot at this time?

The holy spirit of God and not just standing off in the distance above a mountain. Not not just standing at the door of a tent.

but in and through Mary resulting in Praise

cannot Just Praise an amazing unfolding chapter. of God's Plan of Redemption

Genesis 3 God says to the serpent

offspring of this woman is going to crush your head.

so Elizabeth What was the curse placed on the woman in in pain you shall bring forth children and Elizabeth life was decade after decade of the pain of not bearing children. the shame that she had to carry because everyone thought that she was just unworthy that she had sinned that she had fallen and that's why she couldn't carry children and then the child that she's carrying. Does a bat backflip off of worship enjoy?

Imagine Elizabeth thinks back to her first mother Eve our first mother Eve and Elizabeth says to marry in your womb. Mary gross. He who will crush the head of our mothers temperature.

The Blessed fruit of your womb will undo cursive fruit of her fall. You carry the one who will carry us.

This is new. This is God closer than he has ever been. but pray

got from the beginning. You just keep drawing closer and closer and closer and closer to us.

Will there ever be an end?

I just I feel I feel like I'm just one like watching this thing unfold the story unfold this truth unfold and and each new thing is is more amazing than the one before it and it's just it's laid out for us. In your word by the power of your Holy Spirit as it's laid out for us. Show it to us God. I'm I'm I'm like, I'm just and maybe borrowing some of Moses's boldness show us. God please show us what you're doing show us that you are at work.

Hey what you have resurrected in US leap for Joy. Just like John upon hearing the sound of the truth of this caused us to leave for just continue to to roll it to fold this out in front is what I asked him when I pray.

Can we love you?

I'm more than that you love us. With a love that that we are trying to grasp.

Continue to be gracious.

If we may continue to find favor.

Grace upon Grace

closer and closer in your name. We pray all men. As always if if you feel impressed upon to talk or to pray, please come forward. We will be happy to pray over you. Also. There are little invite cards for our first Christmas live nativity. They're back on the on the back table. I just feel the Lord is doing some awesome things and is going to do some awesome things through to that presentation of the Gospel. So please be bold with your friends and your neighbors and and invite them to come and put one of these cards in their hands are on the back table. All right, let's go and be God's people this week and then