March 26th, 2006

The words of the Prophets, Isaiah 10, Jeremiah 20 and II Kings 17 & 25

Intro: Simon and Garfunkel’s song? Sing along (The sounds of silence)
And the people bowed and prayed To the neon god they made. And the sign flashed out its warning, In the words that it was forming. And the signs said, The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls And tenement halls. And whisper'd in the sounds of silence…

Text: Jeremiah 20:1-6
When was the last time you told someone something they didn’t want to hear?

(I go out of my way to avoid conflict with my partner…)

Speaking God’s truth is not always an easy thing to do. (And if you ever do need to confront anyone in truth, and you are looking forward to it, then you’ve got the wrong motives right from the start.)
We can learn from the prophets and how they gave fair warning...

What do you think of when you hear the word Prophet?
The message of the Prophets should give us chills, especially when we consider the moral state we are in today. We are becoming an increasingly godless society. God will only allow this for so long. We too can expect his swift judgment.

Their words ring just as true for us today as they did in OT times.

Through today’s lesson we’ll see an overview of the message God’s prophets brought to Israel and Judah, the two tribes formed after the split.

The prophets warned the people that if they did not repent, they would be carried away into captivity by their godless neighbors, Assyria and Babylon.

Isaiah 10:5-6

Gee, guess what. Israel and Judah refused to repent...and were taken captive.

God has really been speaking to us since Adam and Eve, Cain, Able, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses…. We just have a hard time listening and obeying...

Let’s take a look at the message of the prophets and see what they have to say for us today:

Some of the better known prophets were Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and Daniel.

Ezekiel clothing… Ezekiel 7:1-4

What was a typical message of a prophet? Repent, destroy your idols and trust only in the Lord.
Repentance means a change of mind, to agree with God about our own sin.

Many of the Israelites wanted to worship both God and idols at the temple, (not that we’d ever be tempted to do anything like that…) Isaiah 29:13 (red)

Even though the vast majority of the people were never interested in his message ...in the midst of these harsh messages from the prophets, God never forgot his promise to send Jesus the deliverer.

There were always a few Israelites who believed God and his messages through the prophets.

But the majority refused to obey the words of God, they even persecuted and killed his messengers.

Now before we get thinking that God gets some weird pleasure in sending his prophets and condemning sinners to hell…remember this verse:
"Tell them, 'As sure as I am the living God, I take no pleasure from the death of the wicked. I want the wicked to change their ways and live. Turn your life around! Reverse your evil ways! Why die, Israel?' Ezekiel 33:11

God is merciful, loving, gracious and patient. He does not immediately punish us for our sins.

He warned the people in the time of Noah for 120 years before the flood…

For hundreds of years, he sent his messengers and prophets to Israel, warning them of God’s anger toward sin and his coming punishment if they didn’t repent

GOSPEL

When we stop listening to God, he will allow our enemies (the Assyrians) to move into our land, and conquer us.
Quote from?? This city is headed for a disaster of biblical proportions. What do you mean, biblical? What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor... real Wrath-of-God-type stuff. Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies. Rivers and seas boiling! 40 years of darkness, earthquakes, volcanoes. The dead rising from the grave! Human sacrifice, dogs and cats, living together... mass hysteria! (Ghostbusters)

II Kings 17:1-8

Once overtaken by the Assyrians, the Israelites, turned to idols, intermarried and the descendants of these mixed marriages became Samaritans. (The Good Samaritan…)

These Samaritans continued to worship God, but in their own ways, not according to the ways God had originally told Moses.

Judah, (which included the two southern tribes of Israel) and the people of Jerusalem refused to repent, so God allowed the Babylonians to take them into captivity.

The Babylonians are known for their decadence. (II Kings 25:1-12)

Eventually God allowed the Israelites to return from Babylon to Jerusalem. They rebuilt the city and were given a new name by God...Jews. (Most likely derived from the word Judah.)

The pattern of rebellion against God continued, the Lord punished them and allowed other nations to once again conquer them.

This time it was the Greek and Romans who taught them to speak Greek.

However, God in his sovereignty used the Greek language to spread his word over much of the civilized world. As the Bible was translated from Hebrew into Greek, (in the first century AD) the NT was able to be read by many more people in distant countries (through the excellent roads the Romans built.)

The Romans ruled harshly, worshipped false gods, forced the Jews to pay taxes, killed them etc. yet they still allowed the Jews to the Lord by going to the temple.

Meanwhile, the Jews build meeting houses, called Synagogues, where they read and taught the OT (the writings of Moses and the prophets.) Not all the Jews followed and obeyed God as they should.

However, there was always a small number who still believed God’s words and waited for Jesus.

Throughout this time, Israel’s unbelief and rejection of God brought deep grief and sadness to the Lord. Psalm 81:13-16

Still, God never changed his plans or forgot his promises. He extended grace & mercy.

March 19th, 2006

Israel in the promised land under Judges and Kings
(Joshua, Judges, II Samuel, 1 & 2 Chronicles)

Intro… The Bobby McGees story…
We’ve finally arrived! God promises us a land of plenty, but that doesn’t mean we can just relax and never worry about the temptation of sin once we get there.
Generational sins and the importance of breaking them…

Text: Joshua 23:6-13

Brief review:
The Israelites had wondered around in the desert/wilderness for 40 yrs.

The generation of those who refused to believe that God would give them the promised land had died.

Remember Caleb and Joshua from last week? What did they do? (Believed God and eventually led the Israelites into the promised land.)

Two main stories today: 1. The Israelites in the promised land getting swayed by the culture. 2. God sending help in the form of judges and kings to bail out the fickle Israelites.

Joshua 1:1-2 Joshua leads Israel into Canaan.
(And God provides the land promised to Abraham and his descendants.)

Think back to Pharaoh and all he tried to do to stop this… Even though the Israelites had doubted God so-o many times...God still did what he promised.

He made a way through the Red Sea, feed them, provided water for 40 yrs. Joshua 11:23

Judges 2:6-13 Their leader dies, they turn away from God and worship idols.
The Israelites problem? They got sucked into the surrounding culture.

They made idols and worshiped them instead of the one true God.

God wanted to drive out the evil Canaanites, but Israel refused to believe and obey God.

God allowed some of the Canaanites to remain. Israel settles in and is negatively influenced.

What a huge responsibility we have to raise the next godly generation!

How quickly we turn from God if our leaders fail...Tim Keller...who’s faith is it, yours or the pastors?

? V. 11 Who was Baal?
lord, the principal male god of the Phoenicians, The sun-god, under the general title of Baal, or "lord," was the chief object of worship of the Canaanites. Each locality had its special Baal, and the various local Baals were summed up under the name of Baalim, or "lords." Each Baal had a wife, who was a colourless reflection of himself.

Satan deceives then and now, making people think they are worshipping real and living gods. Anytime you worship anything other than God, you are really worshipping Satan! Feedback?

The price to pay for forsaking God? Judges 2:14-15 God is holy and righteous. He demands death as a payment for sin.

Throughout these stories, we constantly see both important sides of God, judgment and mercy.

The time of the judges. Judges 2:16-19
Israel finally repents, God relents and sends along a man or woman to lead and deliver them from their enemies.

Even with these judges in place, over and over again, the Israelites forget God.

God allows them to be conquered repeatedly by their enemies. Hmm...a lesson for us today?

In the midst of theirs (and ours) constant disobedience against God, his love and care for them did not change.

One of my sons disobedience at the neighbors house...he knew he was in trouble and I could tell he felt horrible. As we walked to his room we stopped on our bed and I told him, “There is nothing you could ever do that would make me stop loving you.”

The time of the kings.
The nation of Israel asked for a king (like the nation around them) and God granted that request.

Many kings ruled over Israel, most were wicked. They worshiped idols and led the people of Israel to do the same.

The temptation to worship things other than God has always been a part of human nature. WHY?

2 Samuel 5:4 Along comes King David. (which leads to Jesus…)
David truly believed in God and wanted to obey him.

Through his ups and downs, God still used him. He wrote many of the Psalms.

He builds himself a huge, beautiful palace and realizes the God’s house was still the same one built in the wilderness (the tabernacle).

David decides to build a temple. He had acquired a great deal of wealth as a King and wanted to build a permanent place where the people could come to worship God. 2 Samuel 7:1-3

God told David that it would not be him, but his son that would build this new place where Israel could bring their sacrifices and worship God. (Solomon)

God reminded David of the same promise that he had given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That the great Savior of mankind would be from his family. GOSPEL…

Solomon builds the temple
David prepared the materials for this temple and passed on the responsibility to his son Solomon. 1 Chronicles 22:5-6, 29:26-28

Actually recreated the tabernacle. Curtain and all.

Once complete, God came and entered this temple, just like in the desert.

As God came down and entered the temple, the people saw a brilliant light, the Shekinah glory of God.

The priest entered once a year to atone for the sins of the people.

Many kings ruled over Israel after Solomon died.
After his death, the nation of Israel argued over who should be king and as a result split into two kingdoms.

The northern tribes were called Israel, and the two southern tribes called Judah.

Feedback?

Conclusion:
Way back in the garden of Eden, God promised he would send a savior who would destroy Satan…Gen. 3:14-15

God also gave this promise of a Deliverer to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Through Israel God planned to fulfill his promise of the Deliverer.

God continued to preserve Israel (through all their disobedience) because this was his plan.

Just as these rebellious Israelites were given God’s words from Moses...we are given God’s words today through the Bible.

God will hold us responsible too for what we do with his words. If we refuse to believe God, we will die in our sins.

March 12, 2006

The curse of unbelief (God’s judgments and deliverances)
Numbers 13,14, 20 & 21

Intro…USA upset by Canada in baseball...This really is a minor issue compared to other things we aren’t expecting...

Life can be rough, all kinds of curves thrown at us we weren’t expecting. Family problems, health problems, drugs, alcohol, depression…

Today we’ll learn about two hero’s from the OT, Caleb and Joshua who weren’t afraid in the face of “giants”. (or to face the “curves” thrown at them…)

They convinced the children of Israel that God was able to move them into this promised land…

There are “giants” in our land, seemingly insurmountable odds, and we need to trust God to lead and guide us.

Not that being a Christian is a cakewalk…

Text: Numbers 14:1-9

Review: The Israelites had trembled in fear when God spoke to them from Mt. Sinai. God was now dwelling in their midst (tabernacle) offering them forgiveness and mercy, continually providing manna and water from the desert.

God had lifted his cloud from Mt. Sinai (10 comm and the tabernacle)

The Israelites followed the cloud and God led them to the edge of the land He had promised them. (And what is the name of the promised land??…)

This was the land of Canaan. However, the people there were wicked and worshiped idols. God was going to destroy these people and give the land to the Israelites.

So, at this border, God tells Moses to pick one man from each of the twelve tribes. These 12 men would go and spy out the new land before the Israelites would enter it...

Spying out the promised land. Numbers 13:1-2
As it typical with human nature, 10 of the men got freaked out, overwhelmed and started to doubt God. Numbers 13:26-33 (The Message pg. 2)

Doesn’t this story sound familiar? “Oh, but God, how can I do this???”

These 10 men had already forgotten all the miracles God had already done.

Why do we tend to do this?

Caleb and Joshua believed God. Numbers 14:30
They had seen the same things as the other spies, but they had not forgotten that God is mighty and can do anything. They believed God could drive out the Canaanites etc.

Sometimes that’s all we can do, Remember God’s faithfulness in the past and trust him for the future.

Feedback?

(like we read at the start…) The rest of the Israelites didn’t believe God though. Numbers 14:1-4
It was as if God was a liar… Why do we doubt God’s promises?

So God gets mad at these doubting Israelites. Numbers 14:26-32
What is a consequence for doubting God? Death! 14:29

There will always be punishment for not believing God... and we can’t rule out death as one of those consequences!

The Israelites were so close to the promised land. Yet, because of their unbelief, God made them wonder in the desert longer. 14:33-35

The 10 men who spread the doubt among the others paid for it with their lives! 14:36-38

Not only did the Israelites doubt God, now they are trying to shift the blame! Numbers 20:1-5
Some people don’t want to believe in God because of some tragedy that has happened in their lives.

It’s not God’s “fault” that men suffer. It is a result of the fall and man’s continued sinfulness.

Sickness, disease, bad weather, etc. are all are result of the fall, man’s sinfulness against God. Feedback?

God does miracles still, everyday, yet people doubt him. Just look at creation

God commanded Moses to speak to the rock to get water. Instead he struck the rock and disappointed God. Num. 20:7-8, 11-12

Is this really that big of a deal? YES! Follow God’s instructions...

Big enough that this was the reason Moses and Aaron weren’t able to enter the promised land.

Once again, the people complained and didn’t trust God. Num. 21:4-5
It’s the same complaint over and over and over.

They paid for it too, 21:6.

When we complain and gripe against God, we can expect to be “bitten by snakes.” There will always be consequences for disobeyed God.

Once again, God intervenes with grace and mercy and offers a way of salvation. Numbers 21:8-9
The brazen serpent. What is the international symbol for medicine? (snake on pole)

Jesus saves us today...

Feedback?

March 5th, 2006

The Tabernacle, Exodus 24-40

Intro... Randy “Duke” Cunningham, the need for forgiveness…
Did you see Thursday’s Religion and Ethics section?

Recommended steps...They encouraged him to listen, be teachable, to make amends.

(especially after reviewing the 10 comm last week), We all realized that we all break them in various degrees and are in need of God’s grace and forgiveness.

Today’s lesson is a visual reminder of the OT system that God set up for forgiveness.

It also clearly points to the NT system that God has set up through Jesus Christ.

In reality, we are all Randy “Duke’ Cunninghams...in need of God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness.

Text: Exodus 40:1-11, 34

The tabernacle is a beautiful picture of our merciful God dwelling in the midst of His sinful people. He clearly makes a way for us to come to him.

God commands Moses to build the tabernacle. Exodus 25:1-8 (review each area briefly as an introduction)
After giving the Law, God realized his people still needed his help.

The tabernacle had to be built exactly as God commanded them to build it. Exodus 25:9
Sacrifice for sin had to be carried out in a specific way too. See Lev. 10:1-3!

It’s God’s rules and we must follow them, all the way through life.

The altar (of burnt offering) Ex. 27:1-2
This is where the sin offering was made. By killing the animal on the altar, the person recognized he was a sinner and deserved death. By placing his hands on the animal, he identified himself with the animal taking his place.

Lev. 1:1-5, 17:11 The importance of blood being shed….

Basin for washing/laver. Ex. 30:17-21
Clean before God, shows respect.

The lampstand Ex. 25:31
Ex. 27:21

Altar of incense Ex. 37:25-
Provided a sweet aroma to God, lit twice a day. Ex. 30:34-38

Like we used to light incense here at CC...

Two rooms, the holy place and the most holy place. Ex. 26:33
First room was the holy place, contained the lampstand and altar of incense. Reminds us that God is holy, perfect, righteous, set apart from sinners. Only God’s chosen priests could enter.

What separated these two rooms? The veil or curtain. Exodus 26:31-33
A visual reminder of the separation between God and man, sin and perfection.

Matthew 27:45-51
Second room was the most holy place. (Where the priests entered with fear and trembling.)

Priestly garments details in Exodus 28

Especially Ex. 28:33-35!

Aaron and his sons were made priests. (Ex. 28:1)

Holy of holies, where God dwelt. Once a year the priest was allowed to enter. (And inside this most holy of holies was...)

The ark and the mercy seat. Ex. 25:10-11
Ex. 25:17, 21-22

How would you describe mercy? “God’s provision for sinners to escape the punishment they deserve for their sins.”

The table Exodus 25:23-30
Unleavened bread (Lev. 24:5)

Food for the priests.

Tabernacle finished and erected. God came to live in it as his house. (what an amazing concept!)
Ex. 39:42-43,

Ex. 40: 34-35

(let’s define these words together)

Justification: made right, opposite of condemnation, the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts, and treats them as righteous

Sanctification: holy, set apart, “carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, extending to the whole man”

Glorification: once forgiven, we are glorified in God’s presence, marked by great beauty or splendor : MAGNIFICENT, DELIGHTFUL, WONDERFUL

Conclusion:
Jesus himself came and dwelt among us, offering himself for our sins, making the way open for all to come to God.

Jesus is the one perfect sacrifice once and for all.

GOSPEL, communion intro...invitation etc..

The tabernacle stood in full view for all to see. Mercy was available to all who would come by faith. In the same way mercy is available to all through Jesus.

Hebrews 4:14-16