Gospel Driven Obedience
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Introduction
Introduction
What a great first night of groups we had this last week.
Looking forward to what God is going to do as we continue forward this semester.
If you didn’t sign up you can still come out and jump in anytime.
Today we will be in the book of Deuteronomy 6
I’m going to go over the entire chapter as we unpack some of the truths that are here and see what Gospel driven Obedience looks like.
The truths of the gospel are woven throughout scripture, even in this book of the law at the beginning of the Bible.
If you remember, Paul said the gospel, the good news, by which we are saved is the death burial and resurrection of Christ.
When I say the truths of the gospel, I’m speaking of the various truths and applications of that good news in our lives.
You’ll see today how faith, grace, and obedience to the Lord are interwoven into this passage and apply to the gospel by which we are saved.
Deuteronomy was written at the end of Moses’ life. In Hebrew the title translate to “Second Law.”
This book seems to be Moses final instructions to the Israelites.
In this passage he is laying out for them what I would call is the most important thing they can do as they move forward into the promised land
What would you say is the most important thing you want from your child?
Many of us might say “I just want them to listen” “I want them to obey when told to do something” “I want them to be kind” etc.
None of these are bad in themselves but the problem we face as parents is that we look at these things as a trait rather than a byproduct.
They are a byproduct of emotion.
Hear me out. If some random person came to you and asked you for money, you would easily say now. If a family member or friend asks, you find yourself wrestling with it. You may be someone who gives you may not. But nonetheless, in the second scenario there is emotion attached to it.
In a Forbes article written in 2018 we find the words
That stimulus generates an unfelt emotion in the brain, which causes the body to produce responsive hormones. These hormones enter the bloodstream and create feelings, sometimes negative and sometimes positive.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbescoachescouncil/2018/05/09/how-your-emotions-influence-your-decisions/?sh=3c2203523fda
^^ Place in digital bulletin
Even in the Bible God doesn’t just adress an action, He addresses the emotion that dealt with the action.
10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
It’s not money, its your love, your emotional attachment to money that is the root of all evil. Why?
Because when you are emotionally involved, your decisions will be based on your emotions.
Ok, now, if we understand this in relation to an emotionally tied purchase of a flower or a car, or some impulsive buy like that, why is it hard for us to understand it in regards to obedience?
Your children’s disobedience isn’t purely emotional but it is highly driven by emotion. Does hormones affect logic? No. They effect emotions. Which is why a teenager can be so volatile.
Emotional reactions are triggered based on what we believe.
Moses addresses this at the start of this chapter and we will pick up on the rest as we go along.
1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the Lord your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it:
2 That thou mightest fear the Lord thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged.
3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the Lord God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey.
PRAY
I. Your Faith in God should be all consuming
I. Your Faith in God should be all consuming
What do I mean by that? I mean it should affect every part of your life.
Faith, belief, all starts with what you know about God. In verses 3 and 5 Moses works at telling the Israelites who God is and what He has promised them.
Where do we get our head knowledge of God and who He is? From His Word. Ladies and gentlemen, this is something that I could preach till I’m blue in the face because while it may seem so basic, it’s so neglected. The more time you spend in the Word of God, the more you know about, which will result in you developing your faith in God.
17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
It only gives you that head knowledge faith though. And that is important. Moses goes further, past the logical understanding of who God is and calls on those who believe in Him to be all consumed by Him.
5 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
Your heart, your soul, and your strength. Strength, I believe, comes from within. Even your work ethic that I believe this is referring to is not just from your physical ability but from your heart.
The amount of physical work you do as you get older is definitely reduced. Many of you older than I am have spoken about how the mind is willing but the body isn’t able. Just because you do less or different work for the Lord doesn’t mean your not loving Him with all of your strength. It means what all your strength looks like is different than the teenager who should be loving the Lord with all they have.
Parents, its our responsibility to raise our children with this understanding. From a young age it is important for them to know the difference between entertainment and work. Entertainment and what we are called to do for the Lord with our lives.
That’s why a head and heart knowledge of God must consume us before it consumes them.
When you are consumed by your faith in God by not just your understanding of Him but also by your experiential knowledge of Him, you can’t help but to share about Him.
7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.
8 And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.
9 And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Notice how in v 8 and 9 Moses writes that they shall bind them for a sign upon their hand and hands and write them on the posts and gates.
This is a debated passage based upon how literal Moses intended this to be taken.
Bible scholars divide over whether this meant they should wear the phylactries. These were small boxes with scripture rolled up in them and placed on the heads and hands.
There isn’t really a record of this happening until the 2nd century. Due to this I lean toward believing the symbolism that is meant here which is where most scholars I find leaning.
Bound between the eyes so that you have them at the forefront of your thoughts and see the world through the lens of scripture. A sign on your hand as you work and serve you do so for the Lord. Upon the posts of thy house meaning for others to know your home is a God fearing home. Upon the gates around the home or the city, again showing all who are on the outside you are a believer by how you conduct yourself.
It’s experiencing God comes from living for Him.
It’s only by experience can you fully understand the gravity of God’s love, mercy, and grace.
Lisen to Paul in
22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
He had an all consuming faith in God.
Look at verses 22 and 23
Who is it that is directing him to Jerusalem? The Holy Spirit.
The same Spirit that is leading him to Jerusalem, is the same Holy Ghost that is speaking to Him through that still small voice letting him know that he be arrested when he gets there. And he was.
in verse 24 he says “None of those things matter” My life isn’t important.
Is your life important to you? Most of us would say yes. But, your life is not your own.
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
It is God’s and should be stewarded according to His desire and will for it.
How?
First, we have an all consuming faith. Then
II. You let God’s grace be a motivator for your life
II. You let God’s grace be a motivator for your life
That grace that we are to preach is the same grace that we are to live under.
When it’s God’s grace that is motivating you, you are not motivated by guilt.
We don’t give, witness, serve, or love others, or do good works because we are trying to pay a debt.
We don’t do things to pay pennance. There is no amount of work you can do or money you could give to compensate God for what He has given you through Jesus on the cross.
The gospel is the ultimate act of grace in your life. Jesus’ death burial and resurrection as payment for your sin is the culmination of God’s power in the universe.
let me ask you…what does motivate you?
Ever lifted weights? What about running?
Many people listen to music during these activities. Do you do that?
Some people, like Dave Poppel can run and not have music or anything. I’m not one of those. I enjoy to listen to something while I exercise, which is admittedly rare.
Does music make your muscles stronger?
Then why is it we believe listening to certain music at certain times helps us to run further, lift heavier, or do more?
Because it makes us feel that we can.
Your emotions are impacted and therefore your motivated to lift more, run further, or do more because you know have more than just your mind in it, you have your heart.
Your faith in God’s grace and understanding of it should be a motivator because of how it impacts your heart and your emotions.
Take a moment right now and think about God’s grace in your life.
The most important thing is your salvation. Man, I’m so grateful I don’t have to work for that. I’m secure in Christ because of my faith in his death, burial, and resurrection.
Every good gift comes from God…I’ve got an amazing wife, a beautiful family, my health, a roof over my head, and i”m definitely not missing meals.
God allows me to be apart of His work. I’m blessed to interact with people and lead them to the Lord. I’m blessed to speak with others and see them choose to follow God by faith and overcome sin and or open their hearts to forgiveness.
I’ve seen families lives turned aorund because of the grace of God.
That one, that’s a big one for me. If you remember my first 6-7 months here , I would often use an illustration of a little girl in bristol who’s daddy was a drunk and God could a do a work to change that family forever.
Maybe you are in a place where you aren’t seeing God’s grace in your life. First, look for it and you will find it. Second, look around. See how he is working in the lives around you. Third, don’t get jealous or envious. Be thankful. pray for God to use you in the miracles He is working.
In verses 10-19 Moses speaks to them about remembering God through their obedience.
Fear God in 13…means to revere Him. love and respect him
Worship Him
Don’t follow other gods in v14....Stay true to Him.
Don’t test Him
Now, remember we are not under the law. The relationship God has with us as Christians is not the same as the one God had with Israel. We are still called to be faithful to Him.
When your faith is all consuming and guiding your actions you will see your life change. When His grace is the motivator, there is not stopping. There is no quitting. Each day you will be driven to live for Him.
It’s when you are there that we will understand that
III. Your faith and His grace should be shared and passed along
III. Your faith and His grace should be shared and passed along
Moses uses verses 20-25 to teach the Isrealites that they need to pass on their faith to the next generation.
They were to do that by them asking about the things of God and the jews telling them all that he had done.
One of the greatest truths we can understand from this is that the name of Jesus and the blessings of God should not be foreign or awkward for us to talk about in our homes.
Our children should regularly be exposed to our testimony for Jesus.
Not just when and how we were saved but daily. The things that we see God’s hand in. The only way we can do that is if we are looking. If they only hear us complaining about the things that are happening around us then they will only know to complain about what is going wrong.
The Jews would have much to complain about, as we hear from the 10 spies last week. They will encounter large walls around cities they need to conquer. They will have other nations to fight, giants, and various things that will cause problems. They could complain about it or they could trust God and move forward by faith.
When we choose faith over fear and courage over complaining, we will be setting an example for the next generation and those around us.
Is that easy? No. But the gospel makes it possible.
Faith in Christ overcoming the grave and your salvation secure in Him should give us bold confidence to proclaim His truths and live them out.
Let’s think for a moment. Ask yourself right now “How am I proclaiming the truths of God’s Word and how am I passing them on to the next generation?”
Do you have an answer for that? If not why not? What could you do this week to proclaim the truth of God’s Word to others AND help pass it on. Don’t say attend church or bring the kids on Wednesday.
Could you pray with them? Could you read a bible story together? Could you go serve someone together?
If you know how great God’s grace is, why would you not want it spread to others?
I believe that that is the problem though. I’m afraid we don’t know how great God’s grace is.
Sure, you’ve heard about it. But do you know it?
Have you experienced it? We experience God’s grace everyday. Do you notice it?
When we are looking for God’s grace and motivated by it we should find ourselves doing things for God that we would not have done before.
It was God’s grace that motivated George Stott to serve 21 years of missions work in China.
George Stott, a one-legged school teacher from Scotland, volunteered for missionary service in China. When asked why he with only one leg thought of going to China, he said, “I do not see those with two legs going, so I must.” Thus began his more than twenty years of missionary work in China.
After 10 years of work in China they had a church of 18 members. Continually trusting by faith in God and motivated by the grace of God with a desire to extend that grace to others and see them know Jesus, George and his wife grace served another 11 years and when they left the Lord had blessed them to have multiple sites, schools, and over 300 converts. They had also trained national pastors.
Maybe being a missionary isn’t your calling. But what roles do you have in life where you need to trust in God and share your faith and His grace to others?
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