Understanding who God is
Exodus chapter 20:1-17
Introduction-
This morning we begin a new series called connecting with God and others.
The purpose of the series is for us to see that a right relationship with God is needed before we can have a right relationship with each other.
If you noticed on your sermon notes that I have printed the 10 commandments.
That will be our test this morning as we look at God and others.
Truth be told, people say that they live a good life and live by the 10 commandments. Most people cannot even recite the 10 commandments, so it is highly unlikely that they live by them.
Let me lay down some groundwork here as God gets ready to give Moses’ the Commandments that he is to deliver to the people of Israel.
Chapter 18 of Exodus- Moses is the Man! No other way to say it!
He is listening to everyone’s complaints and settling all disagreements and after getting some wise counsel from his father-in law Jethro, he builds a leadership team to help him handle some of the problems.
Chapter 19- As the Man, God calls Moses to Mt. Sinai to receive instructions for Israel.
Moses, this is what you are to tell them”
You know first-hand, what I did to Egypt, your enemy.
You experienced how I brought you out of Egypt
If you obey me fully, keep my covenant, you will be a nation blessed by God.
Moses goes to the top of Mt. Sinai to get the words of God for Israel, He receives them and God sends him down the mountain to deliver the warning of approaching God falsely and delivers the law to which He expects them to live by.
Exodus chapter 20:1-17 Read (pause a minute)
(20:18) “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 and said to Moses, speak to us yourself and we will listen, but do not have God speak to us or we will die.”
1000’s of years later, we still have the mindset of the Israelites.
Keep God at a distance and listen to man.
They sometimes feared the messenger more than God.
They fear what man sees and forget or ignore that the God of the universe is watching.
It is easier for us to build a relationship horizontally with each other than to be determined to build a relationship vertically with God.
Paraphrase first 4 Commandments:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and body.
Have no idols
Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.
Remember the Sabbath.
Repeat:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul, and body- Problem!
Have no idols- Ouch!
Don’t take the Lord’s name in vain- Oops!
Remember the Sabbath- Too busy!
The first 4 are relational with God!
They are our duty to God.
They needed to be first.
We need to love God our creator before we can love correctly each other.
It is a 3 way cord-
One- He is God!
Jehovah Jirah, my provider.
He is self- existent, not one of many gods, He is God.
Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end.
He is all-knowing and all-powerful. There is none like Him.
He is the creator of everything.
He took an interest in His creation, and wants to have a relationship with us. One that is not superficial, but intimate and long lasting.
Omni-present- means that God is present at every point of the universe at every moment.
Omnipotent- all powerful. God created everything. He didn’t create anything that could defeat Him.
When God said “Let there be…” there was!
Light, moon, stars, animals, angels, humans, there was at His spoken Word- existence!
2nd cord- He was their God- (personal)
There was a covenant. Standing on His promises,
He will do what He has said He would do.
Wanting a relationship with us that He was willing to die for each one of us.
3rd cord- He was their redeemer-
He brought them out of Egypt .
Because of the goodness of God, He brought them out of slavery and into liberty.
They were eye-witnesses to His deliverance.
3 cords
He is God
He choose to be their God
He was their Redeemer
This year is the 400th year of the King James Version of the Bible. There are some that believe this is the only interpretation of the Bible and all else is counterfeit and uninspired.
Do you think that the God of the universe that inspired 66 books of the Bible through over 40 writers would not protect the inspiration of His Word?
Illustration- (Sermoncentral)
Blaise’ Pascal- a philosopher known for the principals of geometry as we knonw it, and inventor of what is now the calculator said these words- “Within each of us there is a God shaped vacuum that only God can fill” if that is true, then everyone of us was made to seek out God.
Scientist today are asking the question- “Does our DNA compel us to seek a higher power?
The researchers are saying yes! Praise the Lord!
Each one of us is uniquely made by a unique and all powerful God.
Inside of us is the desire to serve God who is bigger than we are. Weather we acknowledge it or not, we know that this did not happen by chance, and the God who created us, created that void in us, wants to fill it and desires to have a relationship with us. That is exciting and demanding at the same time!
The sins we are in the most danger of falling is giving glory to any creation which is due God.
Pride is the love of self.
Covetousness makes a god of money.
Sensuality makes a god of our flesh.
Those that love God endeavor to keep His Commandments. Especially putting God at the right place (First 4 Commandments)
They will receive God’s mercy and strength by the Holy Spirit to live the other 6 Commandments which are relational to others.
You will never live horizontally with others until you live vertically with God. (show with hands)
This… up and down has to be right before(sideways) can be right with people.
People spend their whole lives searching for God and trying to keep rules and never find a relationship with God.
God uses the rules (Commandments) to bring us closer to Him and only a relationship with Him will fill that void in our lives.
Jeremy Houck says before God ever commands them to do anything or to refrain from doing anything, He desires to save them. Moses did not show up in Egypt with two stone tablets and say if you guys will agree to obey these commandments, I will deliver you.
God’s love forces us to ask the hard questions-
1. Do I honor anything or anyone before God?
2. Has God been replaced by something physical or material in my life?
3. Do I value human life?
4. Do I tell the truth?
5. Do I take God’s name in vain?
6. Is work more important than my relationship with God?
If yes is your answer to any of these, you have got to make your vertical relationship with God a priority.
God is like dial soap- Aren’t you glad you have Him, don’t you wish everyone did?
God gets the stains out that others leave behind. He cares enough to send His very best.!
Hallelujah! We are in good hands!
Only God can turn a mess into a message, a test into a testimony. A trial into a triumph. Make a victim a victor.
Let me make this personal! I am not talking about lifeless religion.
The prophet Malachi had a whole congregation of people serving God like it was a burden. Sang songs, gave offerings, Malachi 3:14- “It is futile to serve God.”
Spiritual lethargy can exist with anyone at anytime.
Here are some insights if that is where you are at this morning.
I. It is not lifeless religion- it is a active relationship.
God does not want 2nd rate sacrifices.
God does not want 2nd rate offerings or worship.
If it is not good enough for you, it won’t be good enough for Him.
He does not want left over’s.
God does not eat left-over’s.
He wants the first fruits of everything in your life.
Lifeless religion make hearts dull to the things of God
Lifeless religion makes people defensive instead of responsive.
Lifeless religion covers the truth about people.
II. It is about renewed or new commitments
Lack of commitment saps energy out of our relationship
Malachi challenged his congregation- “set your heart to honoring my name” Malachi 2:1
When God is first-relationships come alive!
When God is priority, faith is increased.
Honoring God gives life to us.
Lack of commitment to God, affects our commitment to other areas of our life.
III. Renewal commitment brings renewed love
Any commitment with relationship is stalled.
Any relationship without love will die.
Without connection to God- you are just trying to self –improve. How is that going for you!
Closing
God challenged people who struggle with their relationship to God to jump in with both feet. See for yourself that I am a great and powerful God.
“Test me in this, and see if I won’t throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”
Every page of the Bible tells us how far God will go to have a genuine relationship with us.
Will Rodgers
“Even if you are on the right track you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
It is true time flies, but the good news is you are the pilot.
What are you going to do about this?
When are you going to take care of this? How about right now!
How about admitting to God this morning that some things have to change, and you are willing to let Him make those changes.
God, today, right now, I am going to jump in with both feet! See for myself!
Embrace his unfailing love this morning, throw religion down and seek a relationship this morning.
