Delivered - The Reason, God's Plan

Understanding Why God Does What He Does

GOD’s PLAN

Yahweh throws down a challenge

Enter into relationship

Commit to Him, by faith, in advance of action

Show loyalty and gratitude by obedience

Their actions showed belief

Ch. 19 - “brought you to myself”

Israel - Exodus 19

NOTE: The harsh warnings: God restricts His presence, always appears (manifests) to a degree, but not fully, not this side of glory

Dealing with God is serious, not to be taken casually, not to be lax

Q: How do you approach someone you wish to honor?

There are times that are deemed special, with a focus that is shown by giving self-denying attention to God

(For them, clean clothes, looking their best; chaste, sacrificially put aside a healthy, normal, but self-satisfying practice)

It’s about their attitude - God wanted to introduce Himself to them, through Moses, on His terms. HE WANTED THEM TO KNOW HE WAS SERIOUS!

“This is MY mountain…I, and it, are Holy!”

Great Encounter (REM: Name?)

Thunder, lightning, cloud, trumpet louder and louder, God is in the form of fire! (Psalm - trumpet, 1 Thess. - trumpet)

God takes them through, and explains a process of properly relating to Him

The “process” begins with faith - and by faith people enter into this relationship

The test of the relationship is seen, and measured, by obedience

God wants a relationship - “It’s Me, I’m the one to pray to, complain to, praise, thank, worship”)

1) To Be Example to Other Nations

V. 5 - “among” the people = “out of, separate”, but NOT PHYSICALLY

This separation was to be spiritual

They were to be a people separated from the general world - by their priorities

Interaction was expected, so they could draw people to God

They had been like the Egyptians, the polytheists - This would be a new, major challenge

God made demands that seemed strange (US, too?) - He wants to show them that He is worth the sacrifice

So they could show others that He is worth the sacrifice

2) Proclaim Truth of God

ONE God - yeah, this was new, too

“The whole earth is MINE”

God explains to Moses that He wants to be heard and understood accurately

He wants His word repeated accurately (v. 7 - verbatim, word for word)

ASIDE - Why I appreciate a very accurate, literal translation of the Bible)

3) Intercede for Other Nations (all people)

Not allowed to NOT pay attention to the rest of the world

REPRESENT HIM

Priests were to stand between God and people - to intercede

Help bring people close - so they then become priests, and draw others close, and on and on it goes

Here, God used Moses to do this, but God still wanted a personal relationship with every person.

4) Keep God’s Promises

So others would follow

So others would know Him

This response was for EVERYone!

Not just the elders, not just Aaron, not just Moses - EVERYONE

INTERESTING NOTE:

God speaks to Moses and all the people, at the same time (Intention for Moses to hear with the people

He wants ALL to hear Him

God called Moses to the top - Moses was to represent God, proclaim His commands, so that Moses could impart that same expectation to the people

God wants His people focused on Him,even though it might seem overboard - He knows we are easily distracted, so He presents Himself in glorious ways, reminders, to help us keep focused.

Moses basically says, God wants to meet you, He did all this for you, you didn’t even ask Him to do all this, and now that you understand Who He is, and what He’s done, will you follow?

YEP - SO WHAT ABOUT US?

1) Be Example to Our World

Culture, Community

WE, yes US, are to be the example of what it means, what it looks like, to trust in and follow God

Not to be like the world, but impact the world

Not to accept the world’s priorites

Not to adopt its idea of success

Not to adopt its idea of fear

God expects sacrifice from us - to show that He is our top priority

Right now, a lot of the things that distract us from Him have been taken away

Have you used this time to get closer to Him?

Have you used this time to be thankful for the lack of distraction?

2) Proclaim God’s Truth

That means that we need to know it

Meaning - we need to hear it, to know it

We need to share it

Verbatim, word-for-word

Accuracy is important - or we end up misleading, maybe even mis-believing ourselves

In doing so, we represent Him, His truth

2 Cor. 5 - Ambassadors, that is who we are

3) Pray for Others

Especially the lost

Help them see how to bridge the gap between them and God

Israel was being introduced to God

We may have to introduce people to God

We may have to explain to people who THINK they are properly related to God who are NOT - this is crucial, and a big problem today.

We, too, are priests, we can go before God, directly, approaching that throne of grace

Hebrews 4:16 NASB95

Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Only priests are allowed to approach God this closely - believers, are priests

Believers are saints - set apart

Not special, like we think of “saints” - but special, because of what Jesus did for each of you/us

4) Keep God’s Promises

If we love Him, we’ll follow - obey

Our actions, our attitudes, our priorities will show if we believe Him

(Exodus - belief after belief, time after time, oppo after oppo)

(Us - belief after belief, time after time, oppo after oppo)

POINTS

We are to demonstrate that the cost to follow is worth it

Following Christ is NOT casual, carefree, and easy

Following Christ is NOT on our terms, but on Him

The lost could ask us, “Why is it so important for you to sacrifice, for you to give, for you to serve, for you to make the choices that you do?”

(The assumption is that you DO all these)

We are to say, “Because I know Jesus, and if you knew Jesus, you’d live for Him, too.”

The joy people see in us living for Him, no matter what, no matter the hurt or pain we endure, is what should bring those people to Him

It should bring weak, insecure, un-assured believers closer, too

Because YOU…BELIEVE…GOD!

We say “Come, I want you to meet God.”

God expected the Israelites to respond, individually, everyone

A response was required of everyone

God still expects a response from everyone

Some will say YES, others will say NO

Meanwhile, we have a clear job to do.

Be example, proclaim truth, pray, and obey. He wants a relationship with YOU. - Wants to know and be known.

Jesus came - BIG TIME; He’s coming again - BIG TIME

Be example, proclaim truth, pray, and obey.

GOD’s PLAN: may not be what we’d come up with (or even what we think best) - BUT this is for HIM, our response is for HIM. Following Him, HIS WAY, is best for us!

God wants His people focused on Him,even though it might seem overboard - He knows we are easily distracted, so He presents Himself in glorious ways, reminders, to help us keep focused.

Jesus basically says, I wants to meet you, I did all this for you, you didn’t even ask Me to do all this, and now that you understand Who I Am, and what I’ve done, will you follow?