Matthew 10:1-15 “
Vr 1- Commissioning the disciples
Gave them power over the devil and demons and the power to cure the world of disease The design of the gospel was to conquer the devil and to cure the world.
Our enemy is the devil and our sickness is sin and the cure is the cross of Jesus
“it is a ground fight –tactic is the Message”
Vrs 2-4
This fight is fought by individuals not just the Pastors, The job of a pastor is to teach, train & equip, that is not to say that we don’t do the other things but if we are the only ones doing it, it will be impossible to really reach the people.
We are all part of the “ground fight”
Vrs 5-6 Jesus was commissioning them to go to the Jews first, part of God’s plan is that message goes to the Jews and after they reject it will go to the Gentiles. After Pentecost we see the message going to the Gentiles. Notice Jesus has compassion on them by using the phrase “Lost Sheep”
Principle-Realize who you are effective with, usually the people around you
Vrs 7 Jesus gave the message “The kingdom of heaven is at hand” That was the part of the message they had Tactic 1 Know the message: GOSPEL
Vrs 8 This was apostolic gift. This was a power Jesus gave them to confirm to their doctrine or that they were preaching truth. But today we can apply this by saying meet the needs of the people in Jesus’ name, this will confirm to them that you really believe what you are preaching. When you are telling others about the love of Jesus we should be willing to help them with their needs.
“freely” the apostles were commanded to use their power freely with people and not use it for their own self promotion.
Principle-God has blessed us now we are to freely give to others. Do you think God blesses us so we can hoard and squander? He gives so that we can give. Our society tells us the more we acquire the more we have for ourselves. Remember God is the one who has given it to you.
Vrs 9-10 Jesus wanted them to trust that their needs would be met and their journey was not going to be long. “Workman” As they spread the Word people would notice the work and feed them
Principle- Rely on God he will provide and your time here on earth is not long and you should not spend most of your life worrying and striving to have more. If you are doing what is right God will bless
If you are pursuing full time ministry, God will provide for you
Vrs 11-14
Vrs 11 Find the house with the good reputation and go there.
Vrs 12 Greet the household,
Vrs 13 If they are not warm toward your greeting they will probably not be warm toward the message
Vrs 14 Don’t be annoying and push the message on them & Don’t waste your time arguing, they need prayer, keep praying
In the case that someone is antagonistic Matthew Henry says The dust of the apostles' feet, which they left behind them, would witness against them, and be brought in as evidence, that the gospel had been preached to them,
Principle- there are going to people in your spear of influence that are just going to be cold to you because you are a Christian, we have to be sensitive to that, if you become too annoying and too pushy you cold actually do more damage then good.
Vrs 15 the inevitable results of not trusting in the message of Jesus is eternal judgment.
“The Ground Fight” Bring the message to people around us. Challenge: Christmas Series
Monday, October 27, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Jonah 4: "Player Hater"
Jonah responds to what God does with resentment-a feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will.
He feels this way towards God
He feels this way towards the Nineveh because they did not in his mind deserve the break.
Three reasons why people hold onto resentment and bitterness
Someone did something to you and you are not forgiving them
You think someone did something to you
You are jealous because you want to be in their position or have what they have.
Who are you harboring resentment against? Your parents, spouse, sibling, friend, teacher, enemy, boss, co-worker, team mate, person in your class
What does resentment do to your life? Look at what it did to Jonah
Vrs 1 anger-destroys our peace
V3 ruins our purpose
Become unproductive
Perspective gets messed up
How do we get over it? ART
Admit it, maybe confide in someone else and tell them how you feel. This does two things 1. Accountability 2. Prayer
Repent of it, call sin sin
Turn toward God and look at the things he has done
Lets look at what God said to Jonah
How does God respond to Jonah’s resentment?
He is in control and good
God is Sovereign and He is good. Jonah knew this and apparently did not like it
God is in control 3,6,7,8
God is good-2,9-11
What we can take away from this book is that God is in control and He desires to do no harm
The book abruptly ends
He feels this way towards God
He feels this way towards the Nineveh because they did not in his mind deserve the break.
Three reasons why people hold onto resentment and bitterness
Someone did something to you and you are not forgiving them
You think someone did something to you
You are jealous because you want to be in their position or have what they have.
Who are you harboring resentment against? Your parents, spouse, sibling, friend, teacher, enemy, boss, co-worker, team mate, person in your class
What does resentment do to your life? Look at what it did to Jonah
Vrs 1 anger-destroys our peace
V3 ruins our purpose
Become unproductive
Perspective gets messed up
How do we get over it? ART
Admit it, maybe confide in someone else and tell them how you feel. This does two things 1. Accountability 2. Prayer
Repent of it, call sin sin
Turn toward God and look at the things he has done
Lets look at what God said to Jonah
How does God respond to Jonah’s resentment?
He is in control and good
God is Sovereign and He is good. Jonah knew this and apparently did not like it
God is in control 3,6,7,8
God is good-2,9-11
What we can take away from this book is that God is in control and He desires to do no harm
The book abruptly ends
Monday, October 13, 2008
Jonah 3 " Second Chances"
V1-2 God gives second chances & hearing the same Scriptures over
V3 Obedience of Jonah, Three day journey region 55 miles or every door in the neighborhood
V4 40 days. God’s wrath but He was giving them time showing mercy
Jonah was the enemy, sometimes God uses very interesting ways to bring us His message
Always have an open heart to what God wants to teach you and where it is coming from
Nineveh’s response could have been kill this lunatic
Their response
Vrs 5-6 “Believed God” That is the Gospel believing God Matthew 12:41
Judgment- believers will judge with Christ
Jonah is type of Christ
Nineveh responded how we should respond when we find out we are doing something wrong. Repent change your mind about what you are doing.
Fast=giving up of food to focus on prayer. It is also he concept of giving up our own desires to met our own personal needs. A kind of self emptying “Kenosis” Phil 2 Christ did that for us. They were begging for mercy from God
Sackcloth=mourning over what they have done or their coming judgment. When we sin we mourn over the fact that we did it and the fact that there is usually a consequence.
Ashes=repentance turning back on old and going towards new. Burt the idols and sat in the ashes
Verses 7-9 The King of Nineveh displayed leadership. One true sign of a leader is when there is danger He takes the lead to bring his people out of danger.
Sin messes things up, relationships Shopping illustration
We feel like we have gone so far that we can’t turn back Hit the reset button
V10 How God responds when we realize our sin. He relents
If you are an unbeliever and feel that God would not want you. He does
God gives us all a second chance
If you are a believer and feel like you have gone to far God wants you to hit the reset button.
We understand that Jonah’s perspective on God in 4:2b is correct
V3 Obedience of Jonah, Three day journey region 55 miles or every door in the neighborhood
V4 40 days. God’s wrath but He was giving them time showing mercy
Jonah was the enemy, sometimes God uses very interesting ways to bring us His message
Always have an open heart to what God wants to teach you and where it is coming from
Nineveh’s response could have been kill this lunatic
Their response
Vrs 5-6 “Believed God” That is the Gospel believing God Matthew 12:41
Judgment- believers will judge with Christ
Jonah is type of Christ
Nineveh responded how we should respond when we find out we are doing something wrong. Repent change your mind about what you are doing.
Fast=giving up of food to focus on prayer. It is also he concept of giving up our own desires to met our own personal needs. A kind of self emptying “Kenosis” Phil 2 Christ did that for us. They were begging for mercy from God
Sackcloth=mourning over what they have done or their coming judgment. When we sin we mourn over the fact that we did it and the fact that there is usually a consequence.
Ashes=repentance turning back on old and going towards new. Burt the idols and sat in the ashes
Verses 7-9 The King of Nineveh displayed leadership. One true sign of a leader is when there is danger He takes the lead to bring his people out of danger.
Sin messes things up, relationships Shopping illustration
We feel like we have gone so far that we can’t turn back Hit the reset button
V10 How God responds when we realize our sin. He relents
If you are an unbeliever and feel that God would not want you. He does
God gives us all a second chance
If you are a believer and feel like you have gone to far God wants you to hit the reset button.
We understand that Jonah’s perspective on God in 4:2b is correct
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Jonah 2: "Aye Aye Captain"
1:17 God prepared a great fish, God’s provisions. In a case like Jonah God did not allow him to die because He was not done with him. One thing we can understand, if you are still living God is not finished with you.
Three days and three nights Matt 12:40 Jesus as a type Gospel
Vrs1-3 Jonah prayed he cried out because of his affliction. When do you pray? When things are going wrong. Like the mariners usually the last resort of life is to turn to prayer. As believers we need to pray regularly
Sheol-place of death or hell. Jonah was down and out in the belly of the fish. Next stop he was whale waste on the bottom of the sea. It does not get much lower then that.
Have you ever felt down and out because you messed up and did something that was pretty bad and the consequence of that were hard to deal with.
Maybe you were or are experiencing what Martin Luther calls ”God’s merciful wrath” You are feeling the consequences of an act of disobedience and God is bringing you into a place in which you need to be to get you through it.
I admit there are many things and people that you can turn to that will be a quick fix to your sin. Duct Tape ill
We need long term solutions for the sin in our lives and only God can provide that. Gospel
Jonah’s advice for a believer is a Prayer of repentance
Jonah references 15 different Psalms almost no original words in his prayer. He prayed Scripture, that is the value of memorizing Scripture.
V4 Jonah’s response to discipline “I will look toward your holy temple”
We learn from consequences not to make the same mistakes again. God’s mercy through wrath teaches us. Jesus says he prunes us so we can grow. We grow by repentance which simply means… changing our mind about the things that we were doing. Not going to make the same mistake two times
Old Boy's Law: you don't learn anything the second time you're kicked by a mule.
Jonah realized that running from God does not work. Maybe you have learned from past sins. Money, relationships, bad decisions, gossip etc. But we demonstrate that we truly learn by not going down that same route again, then we have growth in our lives
V5-6a He dwells on what has happened. When we are in prayer there is nothing wrong with brutal honesty in our prayer. God it hurts it is horrible
V6b But You oh Lord brought me out of this or through this. Prayer of faith
V7 “When my soul fainted I turned to the Lord” That was a wise decision
V8 When we put our trust in idols we are forsaking what God has to offer
Tim Keller Quote “What is there in your life without which you would lose the will to live?” A functional savior, what are you living for?
Jonah’s idol was his position, he was a Hebrew and his people were prospering and living in the prosperity that God had given them he did not want to go to his enemies and see them feel God’s grace
Maybe God even told Jonah that he would in years to come use the Assyrians to attack Israel.
Idols in our lives can be a main cause of sin. Because of them we don’t listen to God
John6:66-69 We need to follow the example of the twelve and not follow the crowd. The crowd will tell you “this works better”
V9 Jonah reaffirms his commitment to the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord Acts 4:12
V10 Jonah was vomited him out. Deliverance
1. Jonah sinned –are you living in sin right now? 2. God disciplined-are you experiencing discipline or realizing it is right around the corner? 3. God provided-has God provided during the discipline? 4. Jonah repented-has you changed your mind about your sinful patterns 5. God delivered-have you experienced God’s deliverance?
Three days and three nights Matt 12:40 Jesus as a type Gospel
Vrs1-3 Jonah prayed he cried out because of his affliction. When do you pray? When things are going wrong. Like the mariners usually the last resort of life is to turn to prayer. As believers we need to pray regularly
Sheol-place of death or hell. Jonah was down and out in the belly of the fish. Next stop he was whale waste on the bottom of the sea. It does not get much lower then that.
Have you ever felt down and out because you messed up and did something that was pretty bad and the consequence of that were hard to deal with.
Maybe you were or are experiencing what Martin Luther calls ”God’s merciful wrath” You are feeling the consequences of an act of disobedience and God is bringing you into a place in which you need to be to get you through it.
I admit there are many things and people that you can turn to that will be a quick fix to your sin. Duct Tape ill
We need long term solutions for the sin in our lives and only God can provide that. Gospel
Jonah’s advice for a believer is a Prayer of repentance
Jonah references 15 different Psalms almost no original words in his prayer. He prayed Scripture, that is the value of memorizing Scripture.
V4 Jonah’s response to discipline “I will look toward your holy temple”
We learn from consequences not to make the same mistakes again. God’s mercy through wrath teaches us. Jesus says he prunes us so we can grow. We grow by repentance which simply means… changing our mind about the things that we were doing. Not going to make the same mistake two times
Old Boy's Law: you don't learn anything the second time you're kicked by a mule.
Jonah realized that running from God does not work. Maybe you have learned from past sins. Money, relationships, bad decisions, gossip etc. But we demonstrate that we truly learn by not going down that same route again, then we have growth in our lives
V5-6a He dwells on what has happened. When we are in prayer there is nothing wrong with brutal honesty in our prayer. God it hurts it is horrible
V6b But You oh Lord brought me out of this or through this. Prayer of faith
V7 “When my soul fainted I turned to the Lord” That was a wise decision
V8 When we put our trust in idols we are forsaking what God has to offer
Tim Keller Quote “What is there in your life without which you would lose the will to live?” A functional savior, what are you living for?
Jonah’s idol was his position, he was a Hebrew and his people were prospering and living in the prosperity that God had given them he did not want to go to his enemies and see them feel God’s grace
Maybe God even told Jonah that he would in years to come use the Assyrians to attack Israel.
Idols in our lives can be a main cause of sin. Because of them we don’t listen to God
John6:66-69 We need to follow the example of the twelve and not follow the crowd. The crowd will tell you “this works better”
V9 Jonah reaffirms his commitment to the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord Acts 4:12
V10 Jonah was vomited him out. Deliverance
1. Jonah sinned –are you living in sin right now? 2. God disciplined-are you experiencing discipline or realizing it is right around the corner? 3. God provided-has God provided during the discipline? 4. Jonah repented-has you changed your mind about your sinful patterns 5. God delivered-have you experienced God’s deliverance?
Friday, October 3, 2008
Jonah 1: "Can I have your Attention?"
Jonah 1 “Can I Have Your Attention?”
750bc Israel was seemingly in good shape the boarders were good and it was a time of prosperity. With that came pride and idol worship. When things are going good we forget about God.
Vrs 1-3
The Word of the Lord came to=Jonah was a prophet-he was given a message from God for the people.
Jonah=dove Ez. 7:15 mourn as doves over sin Matt 10:16 harmless as doves. When Jesus was Baptized the symbol of the Holy Spirit was a dove and the Holy Spirit convicts of sin.
Am it tie=my truth
Nineveh-flourishing capital of the Assyrian Empire
Tarshish was the farthest known city of that day about 2000 miles away
Paid the fare-running from God costs us something- we always pay a price for sin.. consequences, relationship, money, integrity, reputation, trust of others
Reasons Jonah did not obey.
1. Was afraid of them because they were wicked. Monahan ill
2. Did not feel like it
3. Did not want to see his enemies turn from their sin and God have grace on them. Jonah 4:2 We also find that a few years later God used the Assyrians to bring the northern kingdom into captivity.
God will go to the greatest degree to get you back on tract.
He wants our attention
V4 God is in charge of nature.
V5 even the heathen and the Pagan turn to prayer in a time of trouble. “Our thoughts are with you” Or turning to God
Jonah went to sleep and God was trying to wake him up. It was a wake call to follow God. In life we get wake up calls to follow
V6 I think Jonah was depressed and that is why he was sleeping. He knew he had a call from God and he disobeyed.
V7 “They cast lots” There is no luck or chance. This was a custom when people did not know what to do.
Vrs 8-9 What is your story? We all have some kind of story why we are running from God on certain issues. Or a good reason
Vrs 10-11 The account now becomes more focused on the mariners, what should we do?? If you fear God and he is bringing this storm upon us because of you we are in deep trouble.
What should we do? This is a question we all need to ask about our Salvation: Gospel
V 12 Jonah throw me overboard. 1. Depression wants to die, unless and purposeless. 2. Like Christ a sacrifice.
V13-14 They were reluctant to do it. There are times in life when we must do certain things but we are afraid of what the implications or consequences might be.
V15-16 They threw him overboard and offered sacrifices to God
It seems as though that through Jonah’s original disobedience God used the situation to bring others to Himself.
Maybe you blew it in the past… God can use that
God wants the attention of the unbelievers and believers
750bc Israel was seemingly in good shape the boarders were good and it was a time of prosperity. With that came pride and idol worship. When things are going good we forget about God.
Vrs 1-3
The Word of the Lord came to=Jonah was a prophet-he was given a message from God for the people.
Jonah=dove Ez. 7:15 mourn as doves over sin Matt 10:16 harmless as doves. When Jesus was Baptized the symbol of the Holy Spirit was a dove and the Holy Spirit convicts of sin.
Am it tie=my truth
Nineveh-flourishing capital of the Assyrian Empire
Tarshish was the farthest known city of that day about 2000 miles away
Paid the fare-running from God costs us something- we always pay a price for sin.. consequences, relationship, money, integrity, reputation, trust of others
Reasons Jonah did not obey.
1. Was afraid of them because they were wicked. Monahan ill
2. Did not feel like it
3. Did not want to see his enemies turn from their sin and God have grace on them. Jonah 4:2 We also find that a few years later God used the Assyrians to bring the northern kingdom into captivity.
God will go to the greatest degree to get you back on tract.
He wants our attention
V4 God is in charge of nature.
V5 even the heathen and the Pagan turn to prayer in a time of trouble. “Our thoughts are with you” Or turning to God
Jonah went to sleep and God was trying to wake him up. It was a wake call to follow God. In life we get wake up calls to follow
V6 I think Jonah was depressed and that is why he was sleeping. He knew he had a call from God and he disobeyed.
V7 “They cast lots” There is no luck or chance. This was a custom when people did not know what to do.
Vrs 8-9 What is your story? We all have some kind of story why we are running from God on certain issues. Or a good reason
Vrs 10-11 The account now becomes more focused on the mariners, what should we do?? If you fear God and he is bringing this storm upon us because of you we are in deep trouble.
What should we do? This is a question we all need to ask about our Salvation: Gospel
V 12 Jonah throw me overboard. 1. Depression wants to die, unless and purposeless. 2. Like Christ a sacrifice.
V13-14 They were reluctant to do it. There are times in life when we must do certain things but we are afraid of what the implications or consequences might be.
V15-16 They threw him overboard and offered sacrifices to God
It seems as though that through Jonah’s original disobedience God used the situation to bring others to Himself.
Maybe you blew it in the past… God can use that
God wants the attention of the unbelievers and believers
"You look like Jesus" Series: Moses
Hebrews 11:23-29
V23
Moses - in Exodus 2 All the male babies should be killed on order of Pharaoh because he was afraid the Hebrews would take over. Moses’ mother hid him and in a few months sent him down the Nile in a basket to Pharaoh’s house and his daughter took him in.
Jesus - in Matthew 2 in which an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and told him to flee from Bethlehem to Egypt for safety of the child. When Herod heard about Jesus’ birth he found out from the priest and scribes that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. Herod the King was in fear of loosing his thrown to “The King of the Jews” Herod ordered all the male babies under two to be killed. Mary and Joseph left to protect Jesus
Us - Sometimes in life we act like Pharaoh and Herod because we are afraid of losing our power or the control that we think we have, so we act out in a sinful way. Maybe we react in violence and anger when someone wrongs us. Maybe we seek to get revenge, maybe we just do the wrong think to promote or protect ourselves.
Us - Lets look at the flip side of that coin Moses’ mom, Joseph and Mary had to take action to protect their babies. God calls believers to be people of action to stand up for what is right.
Maybe you have a friend who is heading down the wrong path that needs you to talk to them and encourage them. Maybe as a parent you need to have stricter boundaries to protect your child from falling into a sinful situation. Maybe in a dating relationship you need to set stricter boundaries in order to stay pure. Maybe in your social life there are people you can’t hang with and places you can’t go because those people and places bring you down. God many times calls us to take action and make decisions in order to follow Him.
Vrs 24-27
Moses - Exodus 2 Moses was brought up by Pharaoh’s daughter and lived in the household of Pharaoh so he became royalty. He saw a Hebrew slave being mistreated and it made him angry so he killed him. Moses turned his back on his place of privilege to stick up for his people and he realized that God had a plan for Jewish people. Moses saw God work and was called by God to obedience and that’s what helped him endure (burning bush)
Jesus – Obviously Jesus was royalty because He was God and in Philippians 2 brings us to the reality that He did not use His high position to get out of what He came to do for us. Jesus mission here on this earth was to die for our sins. Gospel
He could have came off that cross but he didn’t. The Gethsemane prayer shows us that Jesus was willing to fulfill the Fathers Will. Jesus was one with the Father and knew that plan, that’s what helped Him endure.
Us - We should not use our standing in Christ as a license to sin. Romans 6:1-2 Paul warns us not to give in or allow ourselves to fall into that trap. The easy way out for Moses was to stay in royalty and turn his back on his people, For Jesus the easy way out was to get out of being crucified. Many times our easy way out is sin and just think or say “Hey it does not matter God will forgive me” or worse yet go into sin with the attitude that God will forgive me. Like Moses and Jesus knowing the plan helped them endure, we as believers knowing that God wants us to follow and that is the best plan for our lives should help us endure even when things get tough.
Vrs 28
Moses - Exodus 12 Is the account of the Passover and Moses had faith that God would deliver if they followed the directives, put the blood of the lamb on the mantle.
Jesus - Is the Passover lamb and through His bloodshed we can have forgiveness of sins, but Jesus also knew that going to the cross would not only bring an offer of salvation to us but restore Him to His rightful place of authority. Phil 2:9-11
Us - Like Moses and Jesus we need to trust the directives of God, if you trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection you will inherit eternal life, not “I am a good person or I only trust myself.”
And if you follow what He says God will raise you up, do amazing things with your life and bring fulfillment to your life because you know you did what was right before God. Notice this Moses’ obedience made him the leader of a bunch of complainers for 40 years and to boot he did not even get to enter the Promise Land and Jesus’ obedience got Him nailed to the cross. So we can see obedience is not easy but it is the best way because it pleases God.
What if we don’t obey?
As believers when we blow it and sin we don’t have to live life of guilt and shame thinking God can’t forgive our sins because He can and has. He is the God that gives second chances.
Vrs 29
Moses - Exodus 14 Pharaoh let the Hebrews go out of slavery and they were to make their way to the promise land vrs 12-13 The Israelites 2nd guessed Moses and if he was really fulfilling God’s plan because now they were being pursued. Salvation will come was Moses answer and hen God did the impossible parted the Red Sea notice it took faith to pass through
Jesus - Mark 8:31-33 Jesus tells His disciples that He was going to die and Peter was doubted that Jesus really knew the Fathers plan but He was bringing salvation. Jesus had faith that the plan of Himself dying was going to bring Salvation
Us - Maybe right now you are doing the right thing and things just don’t seem to be going right and you don’t feel a blessing from God, you are being pursued like the Israelites but the pursuit is by your own sin and things almost seem to be getting worse now that you trusted in Jesus because now you are trying to do what is right. When we don’t see the blessing or the benefit of trusting and following Jesus it makes us doubt the plans of God. Or when others criticize.
Some people say “I tried Christianity or Jesus it did not work for me” well what was it supposed to do? I will tell you what Jesus is doing for you, first off He can save you from eternal separation from God because of your sin and He will daily teach you this life is tough, He is there for you because it is tough and you should focus on the fact that this world is not your home and He has a place that is way better for you. Sure in this life there will be good things and that is just to give us a little taste of what paradise with God may be like.
Finally we understand that trusting in Jesus and doing what He says can sometime scare us or is not that appealing. My question for you to ask yourself is, What other option do you have?
Moses’ and the Israelites decision to actually go through the Red Sea was as vrs29 an act of faith but did they really have any other choice. It must have been terrifying.
If you don’t trust in Jesus your sin is in hot pursuit of you and the consequence or wage of it is death. It may feel scary to put your trust in Jesus but it the only option you have. If you want to do that today just personally tell Him. If you do let me know so I can pray for you.
If you do trust in Jesus the sin that separates you from God is conquered
but the call on your life is to not let sin get the best of you, to not use your standing in Christ as a license to sin, not have doubts that Jesus wants to help you have victory over sin, or be afraid to do what is right. But to live a life of obedience.
V23
Moses - in Exodus 2 All the male babies should be killed on order of Pharaoh because he was afraid the Hebrews would take over. Moses’ mother hid him and in a few months sent him down the Nile in a basket to Pharaoh’s house and his daughter took him in.
Jesus - in Matthew 2 in which an Angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and told him to flee from Bethlehem to Egypt for safety of the child. When Herod heard about Jesus’ birth he found out from the priest and scribes that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. Herod the King was in fear of loosing his thrown to “The King of the Jews” Herod ordered all the male babies under two to be killed. Mary and Joseph left to protect Jesus
Us - Sometimes in life we act like Pharaoh and Herod because we are afraid of losing our power or the control that we think we have, so we act out in a sinful way. Maybe we react in violence and anger when someone wrongs us. Maybe we seek to get revenge, maybe we just do the wrong think to promote or protect ourselves.
Us - Lets look at the flip side of that coin Moses’ mom, Joseph and Mary had to take action to protect their babies. God calls believers to be people of action to stand up for what is right.
Maybe you have a friend who is heading down the wrong path that needs you to talk to them and encourage them. Maybe as a parent you need to have stricter boundaries to protect your child from falling into a sinful situation. Maybe in a dating relationship you need to set stricter boundaries in order to stay pure. Maybe in your social life there are people you can’t hang with and places you can’t go because those people and places bring you down. God many times calls us to take action and make decisions in order to follow Him.
Vrs 24-27
Moses - Exodus 2 Moses was brought up by Pharaoh’s daughter and lived in the household of Pharaoh so he became royalty. He saw a Hebrew slave being mistreated and it made him angry so he killed him. Moses turned his back on his place of privilege to stick up for his people and he realized that God had a plan for Jewish people. Moses saw God work and was called by God to obedience and that’s what helped him endure (burning bush)
Jesus – Obviously Jesus was royalty because He was God and in Philippians 2 brings us to the reality that He did not use His high position to get out of what He came to do for us. Jesus mission here on this earth was to die for our sins. Gospel
He could have came off that cross but he didn’t. The Gethsemane prayer shows us that Jesus was willing to fulfill the Fathers Will. Jesus was one with the Father and knew that plan, that’s what helped Him endure.
Us - We should not use our standing in Christ as a license to sin. Romans 6:1-2 Paul warns us not to give in or allow ourselves to fall into that trap. The easy way out for Moses was to stay in royalty and turn his back on his people, For Jesus the easy way out was to get out of being crucified. Many times our easy way out is sin and just think or say “Hey it does not matter God will forgive me” or worse yet go into sin with the attitude that God will forgive me. Like Moses and Jesus knowing the plan helped them endure, we as believers knowing that God wants us to follow and that is the best plan for our lives should help us endure even when things get tough.
Vrs 28
Moses - Exodus 12 Is the account of the Passover and Moses had faith that God would deliver if they followed the directives, put the blood of the lamb on the mantle.
Jesus - Is the Passover lamb and through His bloodshed we can have forgiveness of sins, but Jesus also knew that going to the cross would not only bring an offer of salvation to us but restore Him to His rightful place of authority. Phil 2:9-11
Us - Like Moses and Jesus we need to trust the directives of God, if you trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection you will inherit eternal life, not “I am a good person or I only trust myself.”
And if you follow what He says God will raise you up, do amazing things with your life and bring fulfillment to your life because you know you did what was right before God. Notice this Moses’ obedience made him the leader of a bunch of complainers for 40 years and to boot he did not even get to enter the Promise Land and Jesus’ obedience got Him nailed to the cross. So we can see obedience is not easy but it is the best way because it pleases God.
What if we don’t obey?
As believers when we blow it and sin we don’t have to live life of guilt and shame thinking God can’t forgive our sins because He can and has. He is the God that gives second chances.
Vrs 29
Moses - Exodus 14 Pharaoh let the Hebrews go out of slavery and they were to make their way to the promise land vrs 12-13 The Israelites 2nd guessed Moses and if he was really fulfilling God’s plan because now they were being pursued. Salvation will come was Moses answer and hen God did the impossible parted the Red Sea notice it took faith to pass through
Jesus - Mark 8:31-33 Jesus tells His disciples that He was going to die and Peter was doubted that Jesus really knew the Fathers plan but He was bringing salvation. Jesus had faith that the plan of Himself dying was going to bring Salvation
Us - Maybe right now you are doing the right thing and things just don’t seem to be going right and you don’t feel a blessing from God, you are being pursued like the Israelites but the pursuit is by your own sin and things almost seem to be getting worse now that you trusted in Jesus because now you are trying to do what is right. When we don’t see the blessing or the benefit of trusting and following Jesus it makes us doubt the plans of God. Or when others criticize.
Some people say “I tried Christianity or Jesus it did not work for me” well what was it supposed to do? I will tell you what Jesus is doing for you, first off He can save you from eternal separation from God because of your sin and He will daily teach you this life is tough, He is there for you because it is tough and you should focus on the fact that this world is not your home and He has a place that is way better for you. Sure in this life there will be good things and that is just to give us a little taste of what paradise with God may be like.
Finally we understand that trusting in Jesus and doing what He says can sometime scare us or is not that appealing. My question for you to ask yourself is, What other option do you have?
Moses’ and the Israelites decision to actually go through the Red Sea was as vrs29 an act of faith but did they really have any other choice. It must have been terrifying.
If you don’t trust in Jesus your sin is in hot pursuit of you and the consequence or wage of it is death. It may feel scary to put your trust in Jesus but it the only option you have. If you want to do that today just personally tell Him. If you do let me know so I can pray for you.
If you do trust in Jesus the sin that separates you from God is conquered
but the call on your life is to not let sin get the best of you, to not use your standing in Christ as a license to sin, not have doubts that Jesus wants to help you have victory over sin, or be afraid to do what is right. But to live a life of obedience.
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