THE HOLINESS OF GOD--EXODUS 15:11

THE HOLINESS OF GOD

Exodus 15:11, “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”

Introduction:

Holiness is purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin. The Hebrew word translated “holiness” means “consecrated” or “dedicated,” “to be set apart.”

The psalmist says that God’s name is “Holy,” “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.” Psalm 111:9. In Job 6:10 Job said, “Then should I yet have comfort; yea, I would harden myself in sorrow: let him not spare; for I have not concealed the words of the Holy One.”

God’s power makes Him mighty, His holiness makes Him glorious. His holiness consists in His perfect love of righteousness and abhorrence of evil. God is “of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:” Habakkuk 1:13a.

I. GOD IS INFINITELY HOLY

A. Sin is an unclean thing to Him; it is hyperbolically evil, Romans 1:23, “And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.”

B. Sin is an abomination to God, Deuteronomy 7:25, “The graven images of their gods shall ye burn with fire: thou shalt not desire the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it unto thee, lest thou be snared therein: for it is an abomination to the LORD thy God.”

II. HOLINESS IS GOD’S GLORY

A. God’s holiness is an affront, John 7:7, “The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil.”

B. God will cast out those that scoff at His holiness as he cast out Ishmael from Abraham’s household, Genesis 21:9-10, “And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking. 10- Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.”

III. GOD CALLS FOR HOLINESS FROM HIS PEOPLE

A. We are commanded to be holy, 1 Peter 1:16, “Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

1. Holiness of equality, Exodus 15:11, “Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?” This is God’s holiness that man cannot attain to.

2. Holiness of similitude, 1 Thessalonians 3:13, “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

a. We are to conform to the image of God’s Son, Romans 8:29, “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

b. God’s purpose is to make us like His Son, 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.”

1) We were called, Romans 1:6, “Among whom are ye also the called of Jesus Christ:” Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

2) We were justified, Romans 3:24, “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Romans 5:1, 9, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 9- Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.”

3) We shall be glorified, Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

B. We are to be partakers of the divine nature, 2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given [bestowed or endowed] unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”

C. We are to be pictures of God in holy living.

1. In meekness, Matthew 11:29, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

2. In mercifulness, Luke 6:36, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.”

3. In faithfulness, 1 Corinthians 4:17, “For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.”

D. Our holiness consists in our subjection to the will of God, Acts 13:22, “And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.”

CONCLUSION

We have only touched the hem of the garment of God’s holiness. It is a vast subject that we will continue at the next opportunity.

WORSHIP THE LORD--EXODUS 34:10-17

WORSHIP THE LORD

EXODUS 34:10-17

Key verse - 14, “For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:”

Introduction:

Isaiah 2:8, “Their land also is full of idols; they worship the work of their own hands, that which their own fingers have made:” Today the idols of man are his material things. His pursuits for wealth and prestige have turned him away from the worship of the True God.

The Lord declares in His Word that “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” John 4:24.

I. WORSHIP THE LORD IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH

A. The Day of Worship, Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”

1. A day that Jesus met with His disciples, John 20:19, “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.

2. A day of fellowship, Acts 2:42, “And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.”

B. The Danger of diversion, Deuteronomy 11:16, “Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;”

1. Take heed to your worship, John 4:23-24, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24-God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

2. Take heed to your ways, Psalm 39:1-2, “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. 2- I was dumb with silence, I held my peace, even from good; and my sorrow was stirred.”

3. Take heed that you do not turn aside from the Lord, Deuteronomy 5:32, “Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.”

4. Take heed that you don’t rob God, Deuteronomy 26:10, “And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God:”

5. Take heed to remember who the Lord is, Joshua 5:14, “And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant?”

6. Take heed not to forget His house, Psalms 5:7, “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.”

7. Take heed that your worship is not that of the unlearned, Acts 17:23, “For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.”

a. Many today think that there is no need to study God’s Word, 2 Timothy 2:15, “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

b. Don’t be willfully ignorant, Psalm 73:21-22, “Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.”

c. Let people know that you have been with Jesus, Acts 4:13, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”

II. THE WORSHIP OF GOD BY THE UNBELIEVER

A. All that live upon the earth will worship God, Revelation 13:8, “And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

B. All men will acknowledge Him as Lord, Philippians 2:10, “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”

C. Before Herod He was mocked, Matthew 27:29, “And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!”

D. The next time Jesus appears He will come as the King, Psalm 22:28, “For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.”

E. It will truly be a triumphal entry, Zechariah 9:9, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.”

F. His enemies will be subdued, Psalm 72:9, “They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust.

CONCLUSION

The Lord met with His people on the first day of the week after His resurrection. He still meets with us on that day and it is a day of learning and worship. It is a great tragedy when God’s people take it lightly and put other things in it’s place. If we think God does not take note of this, we are mistaken. Whatever the reason for missing God’s time of worship it is not sufficient.

Vital lessons are learned during that time of worship and we need those lessons in order to make our life count for Him.

GOING FORWARD--EXODUS 14:15

GOING FORWARD

EXODUS 14:15

Introduction:

We are facing another new year with its challenges and opportunities. What will we do? We can maintain the status quo or we can “go forward.”

When Israel was leaving Egypt under the leadership of Moses, the people looked back to see Pharaoh coming with his army to destroy them. Moses knew what the Lord was going to do, but he called out to the Lord anyway. “And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:” Exodus 14:15. THE WORD OF GOD TELLS TO GO FORWARD…

I. IN THE POWER OF THE LORD, v. 14

A. Ye are of God, 1 John 4:4, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

1. The Son of God has given us understanding, 1 John 5:19, “And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. 20And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.”

2. That we may know Him that is true, John 17:3, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.”

A. Ye have overcome them, 1 John 2:13, “I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.”

1. You have overcome the wicked one, 1 John 2:3, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.”

2. You have known the Father, Matthew 11:27, “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him.”

B. Great is He that is in you, 1 John 3:24, “And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”

II. IN THE PEACE OF THE LORD, v. 14

A. There is NO PANIC in the peace of God, Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

B. The peace of God will “keep your hearts,” John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

1. The Lord has overcome the world, John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

2. He gives us quietness in the face of adversity, Job 34:29, “When he giveth quietness, who then can make trouble? and when he hideth his face, who then can behold him? whether it be done against a nation, or against a man only:”

C. The peace of God will keep your minds, Hebrews 12:3, “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.”

1. The Lord has given us a “sound mind,” 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

2. He has given us a “ready [willing] mind,” 1 Peter 5:2, “Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;”

III. IN THE PATH OF THE LORD, v. 22

A. We are his workmanship, Ephesians 2:10, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

1. We are his people, Psalm 100:3, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”

2. We are the works of His hands, Isaiah 43:21, “This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.”

B. We were created to walk in good works, Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

1. In the past we walked according to the course of this world, Ephesians 2:2, “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:”

2. Now we walk in His paths, Isaiah 2:3, “And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

3. Now we walk in the light, 1 John 1:7, “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

CONCLUSION

As we anticipate this new year, let us walk in the light of the truth of God’s Word. Let’s not walk in sin that dishonors our Saviour, “Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” Titus 2:14.

A PECULIAR TREASURE--EXODUS 19:1-8

A PECULIAR TREASURE

Exodus 19:1-8

Key verses: 5-6, “Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: 6And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.”

Introduction:

Israel spent 400 years in Egypt. Many of those years were good years, but a new monarch to over and Israel became a threat to them. Bondage followed and Israel suffered at the hands of the Egyptians. They also grew to be a very numerous people.

God saw their suffering and remembered His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Through His love He redeems His people out of their bondage and makes them His Peculiar Treasure.

I. PECULIAR TREASURE = PERSONAL POSSESSION

Psalm 135:4, “For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.”

A. The Lord redeemed Israel.

1. He reminds them of what he had done for them, v. 4, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself.”

2. This is an example of the tender way that God deals with His people, Deuteronomy 32:11-12, “As an eagle stirreth up her nest, fluttereth over her young, spreadeth abroad her wings, taketh them, beareth them on her wings: 12So the LORD alone did lead him, and there was no strange god with him.”

3. God redeemed them with great ease and with the strength of an eagle, Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

B. Solely because He loved her, Isaiah 63:9, “In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old.”

1. The Lord did not love them because they were a large people, Deuteronomy 7:7, “The LORD did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people:”

2. God would keep His word with their fathers, Deuteronomy 7:8, “But because the LORD loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the LORD brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.”

C. The glory of their deliverance is compared to ours in Christ, 1 Peter 3:18, “For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”

 II. THOSE WHO FEAR THE LORD

Malachi 3:16, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”

A. A book of remembrance was written, Malachi 3:16, “Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.”

1. For those that feared Him, Malachi 4:2, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. 3And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts.”

a. The Sun of Righteousness, Isaiah 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

b. He brought great benefits, Psalm 103:2-5, “Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: 3-Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases;
4-Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; 5-Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”

2. For those that thought upon His name, Psalm 48:9-10, “We have thought of thy lovingkindness, O God, in the midst of thy temple. 10-According to thy name, O God, so is thy praise unto the ends of the earth: thy right hand is full of righteousness.”

B. For the Lord’s people are His Peculiar Treasure, Deuteronomy 7:6, “For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.”

III. HIS PURCHASED POSSESSION

Psalm 74:2, “Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt.”

A. God’s redeemed people, Deuteronomy 9:29, “Yet they are thy people and thine inheritance, which thou broughtest out by thy mighty power and by thy stretched out arm.”

1. Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb, 1 Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”

2. Redeemed to God, Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”

B. A Chosen Generation, 1 Peter 2:9, “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”

CONCLUSION

God calls His people “ a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, and a peculiar people.” What make us different from all others? HIS HOLINESS! Examine yourselves to see if you are in that generation. Have you trusted Christ? If so, is your life a testimony of His Grace in your life?