1 John 1:2 (New International Version)
2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
John 1:14 (New International Version)
14The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only,[a] who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:1 (New International Version)
1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
What happened here? What did Moses see? We don’t know exactly. We can try to imagine, but it’s difficult. God comes down in a cloud and stands beside Moses. He then covers him and obscures his view. Then, He passes by Moses while proclaiming His gloriousness It’s hard for me to imagine how this looked, but I can imagine how it sounded! You see, God told Moses he would see something then, God said something. He spoke … the Living Word. Herein lies the beauty of this episode. Here in this moment, we get a glimpse, just a glimpse of Jesus. This is what is regarded in theological speak as a ‘theophany’. A theophany in general terms is regarded as a physical manifestation or appearance of God. In Christian specific thinking, it is regarded as a pre-incarnate or Old Testament appearance of Jesus Christ. Faith comes by hearing beloved. God declared Himself by telling us how He is personified in the Son. What we know about Jesus today is what was declared on this remarkable day. Can you see it? You should be able to. It’s how we are created. We’re created to form images based on what we hear. In declaring Himself, God set forever in motion, a move of the Spirit that would continually activate faith wherever His declaration was heard. Listen to the words used: Love, Faithfulness, Gracious, Compassionate, Forgiving. He still declares these things about himself today. Every moment of every day He declares that He is longsuffering, not willing that any should perish. He declares that He’s made a Way out of no way. Just come to Jesus. Who wouldn’t want to serve a God like that? Go get your hat and c’mon…
Blessings,
♪ Come to Jesus ♪
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Sunday School Lesson for Sept. 19, 2010: God Rejects Idol Worship (Exodus 32:1-10)
Exodus 20:17 (New International Version)
17 "You shall not covet…
Colossians 3:5 (King James Version)
5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Ouch! (long pause) Ouch! This hurts. You see, it’s easy to look back at the Israelites and point the accusatory finger at them and say “What were they thinking?’ However, I looked at my hand and lo and behold, there were three fingers pointing back at me. Three! I’m as impatient with God’s silence as they were. I’m as covetous for comfort and luxury as these people were. I’m certainly as stiff-necked as they were. Come to the fiery smoking mountain of God and be shaken by the thundering of His voice again? No not me. Take up my cross and follow Him? I’d rather not. What about prayer and fasting? No, thank you. This may seem like an odd start to this weeks lesson, but let’s be honest… Isn’t there a little rebellion in all of us… Oops.. I’m not finger pointing in this one… just introspecting. You see, whenever I do this.. stand in the mirror and inspect closely.. and ..honestly.. , I completely understand why I need Jesus. Without Him, I would be completely adrift. Following after my every whim. Trying my best to get God to Bless my Mess. To somehow sanctify my selfish intentions beforehand and follow after me to cleanup my mess after I have pursued my personal agenda in His Name. I’m guilty. I can look at this week’s lesson and see myself in the Israelites.
And then I see something else.. His Majesty in my inadequacy. His Glory in my shame. His Mercy extended in my guilt. His Grace, His immeasurable Grace toward me though I could never and should never deserve it. You see, If the law condemns me. If it reveals the sin in my flesh. If God’s law exposes me for the ingrate that I really am, then it has accomplished it’s work in me. Bible says truly that there none righteous, Not any of us. Because I cannot save myself, God, who is Love, threw me a lifeline. He gave me Jesus. I don’t even know how to say ‘Thank You’. Really! What language expresses it best? How many times can I repeat it.. in one breath? I feel like a man who has been pulled from quicksand. I was helpless and Help came. I was hopeless and Hope showed up. I didn’t know love, then Love reached into the abyss and snatched me from disaster. I don’t know about you, but I got saved from something… Really! For that I’ll be eternally grateful and … going forward … a little more mindful of my own shortcomings. Thank God for rejecting idolatry. In doing so He separated a people unto Himself. We don’t worship a god after our own liking, but rather we have been brought (bought) to a place where His Holiness and Majesty could be revealed to us , a place where we can worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Brought to a place of everlasting peace through His son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 (King James Version)
5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
17 "You shall not covet…
Colossians 3:5 (King James Version)
5Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
Ouch! (long pause) Ouch! This hurts. You see, it’s easy to look back at the Israelites and point the accusatory finger at them and say “What were they thinking?’ However, I looked at my hand and lo and behold, there were three fingers pointing back at me. Three! I’m as impatient with God’s silence as they were. I’m as covetous for comfort and luxury as these people were. I’m certainly as stiff-necked as they were. Come to the fiery smoking mountain of God and be shaken by the thundering of His voice again? No not me. Take up my cross and follow Him? I’d rather not. What about prayer and fasting? No, thank you. This may seem like an odd start to this weeks lesson, but let’s be honest… Isn’t there a little rebellion in all of us… Oops.. I’m not finger pointing in this one… just introspecting. You see, whenever I do this.. stand in the mirror and inspect closely.. and ..honestly.. , I completely understand why I need Jesus. Without Him, I would be completely adrift. Following after my every whim. Trying my best to get God to Bless my Mess. To somehow sanctify my selfish intentions beforehand and follow after me to cleanup my mess after I have pursued my personal agenda in His Name. I’m guilty. I can look at this week’s lesson and see myself in the Israelites.
And then I see something else.. His Majesty in my inadequacy. His Glory in my shame. His Mercy extended in my guilt. His Grace, His immeasurable Grace toward me though I could never and should never deserve it. You see, If the law condemns me. If it reveals the sin in my flesh. If God’s law exposes me for the ingrate that I really am, then it has accomplished it’s work in me. Bible says truly that there none righteous, Not any of us. Because I cannot save myself, God, who is Love, threw me a lifeline. He gave me Jesus. I don’t even know how to say ‘Thank You’. Really! What language expresses it best? How many times can I repeat it.. in one breath? I feel like a man who has been pulled from quicksand. I was helpless and Help came. I was hopeless and Hope showed up. I didn’t know love, then Love reached into the abyss and snatched me from disaster. I don’t know about you, but I got saved from something… Really! For that I’ll be eternally grateful and … going forward … a little more mindful of my own shortcomings. Thank God for rejecting idolatry. In doing so He separated a people unto Himself. We don’t worship a god after our own liking, but rather we have been brought (bought) to a place where His Holiness and Majesty could be revealed to us , a place where we can worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Brought to a place of everlasting peace through His son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Hebrews 13:5 (King James Version)
5Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Sunday School Lesson for Sept. 12, 2010: God Makes a Covenant with Israel (Exodus 20:1-11)
Exodus 20:10 (New International Version)
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
Exodus 20:18-22 (New International Version)
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."
20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites this: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:
Hebrews 12:22-23 (New International Version)
22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
You were there. Yes you were. You just didn’t know it. When God set his people apart, consecrated them unto Himself and gave them His Holy Word, you were there. What he established at Mt. Sinai on this day would impact every generation yet to come. You see, He cut Covenant with a Nation, an entire people. In doing so He foreshadowed the Church. In all prior events, He cut Covenant with an individual. He promised that their seed would be blessed, but each contract, heretofore, was with a single person at a time. This time, He assembled the nation of Israel and all who followed them from Egypt. All at one time. All in one place. They all heard Him. Together. At the same time. Corporately. Amen. In these few hours, God established a time for worship and a pattern for corporate worship that we the Church still follow today. God understood that we would need an established pattern to follow in worship. That we could not seek Him or find Him on our own, or on our own terms. He established a place and a time and a pattern. When we follow his pattern we are blessed. A day set aside for worship. A place to gather with other believers to worship. A Church. On Sunday. A Church. At Midweek service. Time set aside for worship. Corporately. Make sure you’re taking part in it. It’s God’s best for you..
Blessings,
Ezekiel 20:12 (New International Version)
12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.
Mark 2:27 (New International Version)
27Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
Exodus 20:18-22 (New International Version)
18 When the people saw the thunder and lightning and heard the trumpet and saw the mountain in smoke, they trembled with fear. They stayed at a distance 19 and said to Moses, "Speak to us yourself and we will listen. But do not have God speak to us or we will die."
20 Moses said to the people, "Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning."
21 The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.
22 Then the LORD said to Moses, "Tell the Israelites this: 'You have seen for yourselves that I have spoken to you from heaven:
Hebrews 12:22-23 (New International Version)
22But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
You were there. Yes you were. You just didn’t know it. When God set his people apart, consecrated them unto Himself and gave them His Holy Word, you were there. What he established at Mt. Sinai on this day would impact every generation yet to come. You see, He cut Covenant with a Nation, an entire people. In doing so He foreshadowed the Church. In all prior events, He cut Covenant with an individual. He promised that their seed would be blessed, but each contract, heretofore, was with a single person at a time. This time, He assembled the nation of Israel and all who followed them from Egypt. All at one time. All in one place. They all heard Him. Together. At the same time. Corporately. Amen. In these few hours, God established a time for worship and a pattern for corporate worship that we the Church still follow today. God understood that we would need an established pattern to follow in worship. That we could not seek Him or find Him on our own, or on our own terms. He established a place and a time and a pattern. When we follow his pattern we are blessed. A day set aside for worship. A place to gather with other believers to worship. A Church. On Sunday. A Church. At Midweek service. Time set aside for worship. Corporately. Make sure you’re taking part in it. It’s God’s best for you..
Blessings,
Ezekiel 20:12 (New International Version)
12 Also I gave them my Sabbaths as a sign between us, so they would know that I the LORD made them holy.
Mark 2:27 (New International Version)
27Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Sunday School Lesson for Sept. 5, 2010: God Calls Moses (Exodus 3:1-6, 13-15)
Mark 16:15-18 (New International Version)
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
1 Corinthians 1:21 (New International Version)
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Proverbs 18:21 (New International Version)
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
God … Used …. One…. Obedient…. Soul… To…. Deliver…. His …. People…. From…. Four ….. Hundred…. .. Years…. Of …. Slavery….
Why am I focusing on this point? I find it interesting that God did not reveal himself to a crowd. He didn’t find the leaders of the peoples of Israel. He didn’t reveal himself to Pharaoh and his counselors. No, God revealed himself to Moses. Moses alone. And when He did, something glorious occurred. A nation was born out of captivity. Now it’s easy enough for the theologists (I made that word up J) among us to draw the obvious parallel between Moses and Christ. You know, one man delivered Israel, one man delivered the world… No, that’s not what I’m after. Not tonight. No, I noticed something else. Something I’d not seen before. You see, after God initiated this personal relationship with Moses (personal relationship… get it?), He followed Moses wherever he went and whenever Moses spoke, God moved. Mightily! How does that apply to me? To you? Exactly the same way. After He reveals himself to us through and in the person of Jesus Christ and we are changed, then He follows us. He keeps us company. He teaches us. He sustains us. And, when we speak, He reveals Himself through us, sometimes, with signs following (signs of His Majesty, His Omnipotence, His Glory). Whether it’s conversions, healings, miracles, deliverances, wonders; God follows us awaiting the opportunity to move on behalf of the people around us. Family, friends, coworkers, strangers, God is not a respecter of persons. He’s just waiting on us … to say something… I’ve probably said something like this before, but somebody’s deliverance, somebody’s healing, somebody’s redemption is right on the tip of your tongue (Selah). Moses spoke a nation into freedom. Who will you set free? Speak up. The Word is quick and powerful, able to deliver to the uttermost… if only we will say … something.
Blessings… wb
15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."
1 Corinthians 1:21 (New International Version)
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.
Proverbs 18:21 (New International Version)
21 The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
God … Used …. One…. Obedient…. Soul… To…. Deliver…. His …. People…. From…. Four ….. Hundred…. .. Years…. Of …. Slavery….
Why am I focusing on this point? I find it interesting that God did not reveal himself to a crowd. He didn’t find the leaders of the peoples of Israel. He didn’t reveal himself to Pharaoh and his counselors. No, God revealed himself to Moses. Moses alone. And when He did, something glorious occurred. A nation was born out of captivity. Now it’s easy enough for the theologists (I made that word up J) among us to draw the obvious parallel between Moses and Christ. You know, one man delivered Israel, one man delivered the world… No, that’s not what I’m after. Not tonight. No, I noticed something else. Something I’d not seen before. You see, after God initiated this personal relationship with Moses (personal relationship… get it?), He followed Moses wherever he went and whenever Moses spoke, God moved. Mightily! How does that apply to me? To you? Exactly the same way. After He reveals himself to us through and in the person of Jesus Christ and we are changed, then He follows us. He keeps us company. He teaches us. He sustains us. And, when we speak, He reveals Himself through us, sometimes, with signs following (signs of His Majesty, His Omnipotence, His Glory). Whether it’s conversions, healings, miracles, deliverances, wonders; God follows us awaiting the opportunity to move on behalf of the people around us. Family, friends, coworkers, strangers, God is not a respecter of persons. He’s just waiting on us … to say something… I’ve probably said something like this before, but somebody’s deliverance, somebody’s healing, somebody’s redemption is right on the tip of your tongue (Selah). Moses spoke a nation into freedom. Who will you set free? Speak up. The Word is quick and powerful, able to deliver to the uttermost… if only we will say … something.
Blessings… wb
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