TEXT: Exodus 20
TITLE: The Journey Towards Holiness - “Obey The Law!” or “Obey and Be blessed”
SERIES: Lessons Learned from God’s People
TOPIC: Obedience
OCCASION: Burnside Christian Church, May 3, 2009
PROP.: Obedience is the next key word to holiness!
INTRODUCTION: We are in a series called: “LESSONS LEARNED FROM GOD’S PEOPLE.“ The lesson we have been learning this month is: How to Be Holy.
So far, we’ve given you two key words you need to apply to your life in order to become Holy.
1. Separation
2. Boundaries
And today’s key word is:
3. Obedience.
Our text is Exodus 20. The Israelites have left Egypt and the life of slavery behind them and have now been traveling for 3 months. They have come to the foot of Mt. Sinai where they have established their boundaries.
And so our story picks up in Exodus 20 verse 1.
1 And God spoke all these words:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
3 "You shall have no other gods before [a] me.
4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. 5 You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand {generations} of those who love me and keep my commandments.
7 "You shall not misuse the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.
8 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 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. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
12 "Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.
13 "You shall not murder.
14 "You shall not commit adultery.
15 "You shall not steal.
16 "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.
17 "You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his manservant or maidservant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor."
Today’s sermon title is this: Obey the Law and be Blessed.
ILLUSTRATION: Outdated or silly laws…
www.idiotlaws.com
Illinois: In Chicago, it is illegal to eat in any building that is currently on fire.
South Carolina - It is illegal to kill anyone while you are attempting to commit suicide.
South Dakota - Don’t fall asleep in a cheese factory in South Dakota any time soon.
Tennessee - In Memphis, women are only allowed to drive cars if a man is walking beside or in front of the car waving a red flag to warn other drivers and pedestrians.
Virginia - Only political candidates are allowed to bribe or blackmail people without receiving punishment. I thought that was a national law?
Wyoming - No photos of live or dead rabbits allowed between January and April.
Out dated laws. Now we laugh at those laws. Because they are outdated. Useless. But some view the 10 commandments as outdated as well. “Well those are in the old testament”.
Well, I’m here to tell you that the Laws of God are NOT outdated! It will NEVER be outdated! It will never go out of style. Never be considered old fashioned or antique or powerless.
Listen to what Jesus said in his sermon on the mountain: (Matthew 5:17-18) “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (I think we all have a good understanding of how Jesus fulfilled the prophets. Jesus fulfilled or completed all the predictions made about the Messiah about 700 years ago! But how did Jesus fulfill the law? He fulfilled the law by meeting the standards of the law. He obeyed the law and didn’t break one of the commandments! Not only that, but Jesus proved He didn’t want to do away with the law by increasing the level of expectations of the law…remember His words: “You have heard it said…but I tell you.” He was raising the level of expectations concerning the law!)
Vs. 18
“I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished.”
So Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law…but to fulfill the law…to raise the standard of the law by which we live.
Last week we told you to set up some boundaries. Some lines in your life that you absolutely will not cross! Those boundaries were to be placed in matters of grey area…where the Bible doesn’t specifically say anything about it.
This week, we are looking at the boundaries that God Himself has established. Limits that you and me are not to exceed! Because as long as we live within the boundaries that God has established, life is good. But when we cross those boundaries, life becomes harder, more difficult.
So are you living within the boundaries God has established? Real quick, I want to give you some:
Objections to boundaries: (Top 3)
(three complaints…make a note of them, but I’m sure YOU haven’t thought about any of them…)
1. I am gonna be SOOOOOO bored! Is that what you think? You think that you’re going to make the decision to live the life that your creator designed you to live and you are going to miss out? Have you ever chosen to obey God and lost? Have you ever made a decision of righteousness and have been disappointed? The things that I regret are the sinful choices I’ve made. I don’t ever regret the good choices I’ve made…do YOU? You’re not going to be bored.
2. I am gonna be rejected by my family (friends). I think that’s a real concern. And if I go all out my family is gonna reject me. They are gonna think I’m some sort of fruit-cake! Some sort of whacko! I’ve got news for you…YOU ARE a whacko! What does the Bible say about that? You are aliens and foreigners! You are stars in the universe! You’re not helping God by living a compromised life. You’re not winning people to Christ with your double-minded living. It’s only when you take a stand and do what’s right
ILLUSTRATION: Young couples Bible study we watched Ice-cream and fruitcake. It was amazing! This Christian girl was a roommate to this non-christian girl and long story short, changed the non-Christian girl’s life! Don’t be swayed in your decision making. Stand firm. Live righteous. God will be glorified!
Or some people give the excuse:
3. I’m just gonna fail anyway. What’s the big deal? What do you say to that? What do you tell someone who says I am gonna fail? You say: “Yep. You’re right.” The Bible says that we all fall in many ways. You are gonna fail. You’re not going to be immediately everything that you want to be. That’s why Holiness is a JOURNEY! It doesn’t happen overnight. But I’m never going back again to the land of rationalizations and excuses. I’ve decided. I’ve drawn a line. I’ve marked off some boundaries. I’m living separated!
The first part of holiness is less sin. The opposite of holiness is sin. All in favor of less sin? Sin just causes suffering. Sin destroys the fabric of the person God has made. There’s nothing good about sin. In action or in attitude. It only makes things bad. Anyone here want to share a testimony about how sin has IMMEASURABLY improved your life? Less sin. Less sin. This is a part of holiness. Not NO sin. Less sin!
The opposite of holiness is sin. Sin destroys. Sin disgraces the God who made us.
Sin defiles. Sin tears down. And you want to sit here and tell me that boundaries that will keep you from sinning are going to make your life worse? THAT’S A LIE FROM THE FATHER OF LIES! Satan would have you believe that sin makes your life interesting. But that’s a lie.
Satan doesn’t want you to live a Holy life. Satan doesn’t want you to be obedient to the laws…to the standards given by God.
But I want to help you be obedient.
T.S.: So today, I want to give you the secret formula for (obedience?) Holiness!
Here it is…
(A + B = C) = D
I. Explaining the Formula:
Let’s start filling in the letters, shall we? Then you’ll see that this formula makes perfect sense!
First part of the formula is…
A. Know the law giver (vs. 2)
Before God gives Moses the 10 commandments, God says, “I am the Lord Your God who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”
What God was essentially pointing out was this - “Remember who I am? If you remember who I am, and what I’ve done for you will be more likely to follow my commands.”
How true is that? If we recognize who God is and what God has done for us, won’t that cause us to have a sense of gratitude that will well up inside of us and cause us to want to live a HOLY & righteous life for our God?
1st John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” How did God love us?
Romans 5:8 NIV says…
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Obedience comes from knowing the law giver. Know the law giver! Know what God has done for you.
The second part of the formula is:
B. Know the Law!
--Know the authority
These aren’t called the ‘suggestions’. Or the 10 ‘options to follow’. These are called the 10 COMMANDMENTS. You MUST do them!
--Know the content
Can you name the 10 commandments? In order? The reason we are putting the 10 commandments to memory is because How can you obey the law if you don’t first know the law?
Psalm 119:11 NIV Read this chapter
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
--Jesus’ summary of the law (Matthew 22:36-39)
Jesus refers to the 10 commandments frequently in the New Testament. Did you know that? And Jesus summarizes the 10 commandments in Matthew 22:36-39
36"Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37Jesus replied: " ’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’[b] 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ’Love your neighbor as yourself.’[c] 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments."
Jesus summarized the 10 commandments by saying: “Love God. Love others.” Let’s see how each of the 10 commandments can fit into one of those two categories, shall we?
The first four commandments fall into “Loving God” category. The last 6 deal with “loving mankind” category.

KNOW THE LAW. THE AUTHORITY & THE CONTENT!
Knowing God. Knowing His laws will lead to…And once you know the law giver, and you know the law…guess what? You’ll want to…
C. Obey the Law
ILLUSTRATION: How many of you whenever you see a police officer while you are driving automatically will tap your break and immediately check your speed? Even if you aren’t speeding?!?
Why did you do that? Because you know the law…and you recognize the law enforcer…and you want to obey the law!
Now obeying God’s law can’t save you! Obeying the law cannot remove guilt; it only intensifies it. This is where the Pharisees got it wrong. They thought that by obeying the law, that somehow they would be considered good enough to find favor in God’s eyes.
Chuck Swindoll gives three functions of God’s law.
God’s law serve as a mirror - showing us our sin.
Romans 3:20 tells us that through the law we become conscious of our sin!
2nd function of the law
God’s law serves as a policeman, enforcing order.
It shows us what behavior needs to be punished or reprimanded. And it establishes order!
3rd function of the law
God’s law serves as a guide leading us into good works.
God’s law applies to believers. It tells us how to live holy lives, how to love God and our neighbor, how to keep God at the forefront of our lives.
--There is a difference between knowing the law…and following the law.
Become doers of the word! Not just hearers or memorizers.
D. Be blessed!
First of all, understand these three questions:
Is it not a blessing to know the law giver?
Is it not a blessing to know the law?
Is it not a blessing to obey the law?
YOU ARE BLESSED all ready. But I think there are other blessings to be realized when you follow the boundaries God has established. Please understand WHY God has established boundaries. For your safety and protection! For YOUR good! To help you establish better relationships with God and with others!
So let’s review the formula:
(Knowing the Law Giver + Knowing the law = obedience) = Be Blessed!
You’re only going to be obedient to God when you:
1. Know Him intimately. Know his person and works!
2. Know the law. How can you obey God if you don’t know what he requires?
And then the other part of the equation, Obedience brings Blessing.
Once you obey God’s law, you WILL be blessed! And that blessing might be as simple as not being punished…but that’s certainly a blessing, isn’t it?
II. Examples of the Formula
Is this just some made up formula that you pulled out of thin air, Mark? Nope. I want to give you some people who followed this formula and ended up being blessed.
The first example I want to give you is…
A. Joshua Joshua 1:8
You remember Joshua, right? Moses’ successor. After Moses died, it was Joshua’s duty to lead the people of Israel onto the promised land. And what a big and daunting task that would be. Not only to lead the people but also to try to fill the shoes of Moses.
And here is what God told Joshua as he was to take over this God ordained task:
“Do not let this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to DO everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
--He knew God
Joshua was one of the FEW adults who experienced slavery in Egypt and yet lived to enter into the promised land. Do you think he knew God? Do you think Joshua knew what God had done for them? Do you think Joshua knew of God’s great power and provision? Absolutely. Joshua knew God.
--He knew the Law
Joshua was there when the law was first given at the foot of Mt. Sinai. And God’s instructions to him were: “do not let the this book of the law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night!”
There was no doubt that Joshua knew the law! This was the command from God!
--This led to him being obedient to the Law
This was God’s command. “Be careful to DO everything written in the law.” Obey my commands.
--Which in turn led to Him being blessed!
And look at the promise! He would be blessed. Was he blessed? Was he successful? Yes. He defeated mass armies and led the people into the land flowing with milk and honey. He WAS blessed! Why? Because he followed the formula: Knowing the Law Giver + Knowing the Law = obeying the law (which leads to being blessed!)
The second example I have for you is…
B. Josiah 2nd Kings 23
You remember Josiah? One of Brigham’s first sermons he preached was on the story of Josiah. He was the boy-king of Judah. 8 years old and became the king of Judah. His dad was a corrupt king. But Josiah was different. Why was Josiah different? Because…
--He knew God
He wanted the temple repaired so he could re-establish proper worship of God!
--He came to know the law
Upon repairing the temple, he found the LAW of God! And what was His reaction? He tore his robe. He was in anquish because now he realized that his people weren’t following God’s laws!
So guess what he did:
--He obeyed the law!
And as a result..
--He was blessed! Read Matthew 1:10-11
He was a relative of Jesus Christ! He had the blessing of being included in the lineage of Jesus Christ! Amazing!
Or what about…
C. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
Three men who knew what God’s law said about worshipping idols. And the king Nebuchadnezzar wanted everyone to bow down and worship him when the music played. These three men stood their ground…would not cross the boundary that God had established…and they were thrown into a blazing furnace of fire that was heated 7 times hotter just for them. The end. No. You know how it ends. God was with them in the furnace…he didn’t save them from being PUT INTO the furnace, but was with them while they were in the furnace and were ultimately saved!
I have several other examples…but time doesn’t allow us to explore them all..
Daniel,
CONCLUSION: I want to leave you with some reminders concerning God’s law:
1. God’s boundaries are non-negotiable. You can’t decide which ones you will follow. You have to follow them all!
2. God’s boundaries don’t change. You can’t move them.
3. God’s boundaries are permanent. They won’t become outdated. They are here for good!
4. God’s boundaries are for our good. It serves us well to stay within the boundaries God has established. We have only touched on the most familiar boundaries. But guess, what? If it’s in this book…and we follow it, we will be blessed!
Know the Law Giver…Know the Law…Obey the Law…Be blessed!
