The Center

The geocentric model held sway into the early modern age, but from the late 16th century onward, it was gradually superseded by the heliocentric model of Copernicus (1473-1543), Galileo (1564-1642), and Kepler (1571-1630). There was much resistance to the transition between these two theories. - Brittanica

One theory about the rise of the geocentric model of the universe was the thought that God made man & the importance of man was reason enough for the universe to revolve around man as the centerpiece of His creation.

The transition from a geocentric to a heliocentric view is typically a change in man's perspective; the former is constrained by the experience and observation based on the surface of the earth, whereas the heliocentric view was regarded as the first step that man goes beyond the surface of the earth to view the universe. - Asia-Pacific Forum on Science Learning and Teaching, Volume 6, Issue 2, Article 1 (Dec., 2005) Shu-Chiu LIU

Today, I feel that:

God wants to bring us to a valuable and important change in perspective - His perspective of how to live the blessed life.

Our Challenge:

Psalm 8:3–6 NKJV

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,

Because God put His affection, grace, authority, & power on people it can get very easy to view ourselves as the center of God’s creation thoughts & priorities.

Genesis 2:7 NKJV

7 And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

It’s interesting that man was formed by God from the dirt of the earth & that we can end up in a geo-centric & ego-centric state.

Romans 12:3 NKJV

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

Our challenge is to keep the right perspective & relative importance between ourselves & God.

God’s Plan:

Numbers 2:1–2 NKJV

1 And the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: 2 “Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard, beside the emblems of his father’s house; they shall camp some distance from the tabernacle of meeting.

All of life, for God’s people & “The Church in the Wilderness” (Acts 7:38), revolved around the Presence of God, the activities of the tabernacle & the instructions/commandments of God.

The Tabernacle & the commandments of God determined:

Where you would live (as the cloud moved & the arrangement)

The Order that you would move in

Plans for finances - Tithes, Sacrifices, Offerings, Feasts

Atonement for sin

Washing & cleansing

Healing

Protection from vengeance

Exodus 31:18 NKJV

18 And when He had made an end of speaking with him on Mount Sinai, He gave Moses two tablets of the Testimony, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

New Testament Survey - Jewish

To them (the Jews), the Old Testament was not a collection of ancient religious literature; rather, it was the Word of God, the basis of their morality, religious observances, and civil government.

God has never changed His prescription for how we would respond to and interact with Him.

The House of God & the Presence of God should be central to our everyday life & should largely determine the way we live and what we do.

At this point, many people will begin to fight against the pattern that God laid out because “Times have changed” & “We don’t live in the Old Testament”

Hebrews 13:8 NKJV

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Matthew 5:17–18 NKJV

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.

Times may have changed, but Jesus Christ has not.

Remember :

God’s commandments are not grievous (1 John 5:3)

A Fresh Perspective:

John 15:5 NKJV

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Let’s not continue to compartmentalize Jesus & only try to be connected to Him & extract all we need in just a couple hours on 1 day a week & at our convenience.

Let’s not treat Jesus like the weird uncle we really don’t want to spend time with, but are obligated to see once a week.

Psalm 42:1–2 NKJV

1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?

When we are thirsty for water, NOTHING will do besides WATER.

John 7:37–39 NKJV

37 On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. 38 He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 39 But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

We would do well to go back to God’s pattern where Jesus, His Church, & His People are the center which our life revolves around rather than a place that we visit from time to time.

Maybe the abundant life is less about the hustle & more about keeping the major things major & in the right order of priority.

Just One Thing:

Putting Jesus, His Church & His people at the center of your lifestyle & activities will change your universe! Let’s reprioritize today.

Discussion Questions:

What’s the dumbest thing someone has argued with you about?

What were your first thoughts when you heard about the how the Nation of Israel lived their lives centered around the Tabernacle?

Please read Psalm 42:1-2 and share what this scripture means to you and how it affects your perspective of a relationship with Jesus.

Please share in what way this sermon ministered to or challenged you the most.