God’s Covenant of Grace
Grace Sermon Series, Part 9
Exodus 6:6-8
Introduction
- Next Sunday we will complete this series
- Today, let’s turn to the book of Exodus, Chapter 6
- God’s grace produces tangible results in our lives
-- It gives us peace for the future and hope to stand firm during trials
-- God has given us His grace as proof of His love for His own
- When we see the results of grace we become strengthened
-- It’s why we can face an uncertain future without fear of the unknown
-- Sure, we may be uncertain in situations; but God is STILL God
-- He is where our hope comes from, and where our focus must be
- Remember: Grace is His benevolence to the undeserving (you and me)
- Let’s consider this morning God’s grace through his 7 “I will” promises
- Read Exodus 6:1-8 / Pray
- I have 7 points this morning – and all of them are God’s promises
∆ Point 1 – The I will of deliverance
- The I will of deliverance, “I will bring you out”
- His people were captured and enslaved by the ruthless Egyptians
-- Notice how God uses the work “yoke”; think farm animal being driven
- This promise that God makes is where we see His grace clearly
-- I will bring you out – out from the captivity, the horror you face daily
-- APP: In the same way, God promises to bring us out of our captivity
- His grace found in Christ’s death/resurrection is how He brings us out
-- Moses was being told that God would remove this yoke of oppression
-- All we need to do is accept it and submit to the authority He has
-- Deeper: All we need to do is submit to His will and abandon our own
-- APP: It’s where true Christianity takes root: submission to God fully
- God’s reminder is His covenant is already in place (v4); it’s His work now
-- Therefore, when He promises to deliver – the result is his and not ours
-- God’s deliverance is total once you are truly made free …
∆ Point 2 – The I will of liberty
- The I will of liberty, “I will free you from being slaves”
- The freedom we experience is His grace flowing into our lives
-- “I will free you” from being a slave; from “being slaves” (future tense)
- The after-effects of our submission to God is totally on Him
-- This means His promise is what we rely on, and not of ourselves
-- Ephesians 2:8-9 comes to mind here: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast.”
- God’s promise of freedom is not something that we have a role in
-- His grace is completed in His action, and nothing more of ourselves
-- APP: It’s what moved His people to follow; He had what they lacked
- IMP: He still has what people lack right now – total freedom in Christ
-- If we are to be serious in our walk with God, we need to see our dependence
-- His liberty completes us; His liberty frees us; His liberty changes us
∆ Point 3 – The I will of power
- The I will of power, “I will redeem you”
- God’s power should never be questioned, even though some do daily
-- We do so in the form of doubt; uncertainty about what He’s capable of
-- Deeper: Let’s admit it, sometimes we wonder if God really can do it all
- APP: It’s tough to admit, but secretly we doubt; we worry about everything
-- It’s why we think we need to control everything and know the outcomes
-- It’s why we feel that God needs a helping hand in order to be God
- “I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment”
-- At no time are we consulted in this manner of redemption
-- The work is solely His because He is God and is able to do it
- His power is without question because He has always been; we have not
-- He has already redeemed His creation with the sacrifice of His own Son (grace)
- TRANS: Once that was complete, the roadblock to relationship was removed
∆ Point 4 – The I will of relationship
- The I will of relationship, “I will take you as my own people”
- To me, this and the next point really stand out as the most challenging
-- God sees something in us that makes us not only redeemable; but worthy
-- Worthy to be called His own, to be part of His family … it’s remarkable!
- Jeremiah 31:3 ESV, “The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”
- Romans 5:8 ESV, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
- Even in spite of ourselves, we are given the chance to be in relationship
-- But what’s more, it is not a one-time shot (how many have done you wrong?)
-- Through His grace we have abundant opportunities to turn to Him
- APP: Even today, you can ask forgiveness of your sin and be renewed
-- Prayer for renewal …
- TRANS: Now here’s where I have a struggle – I can be His friend?
∆ Point 5 – The I will of friendship
- The I will of friendship, “I will be your God”
- Let’s face it: some of us are in relationship with others b/c we have to
-- Maybe they are family that we don’t like; co-workers, spouse friends, etc.
-- You have some sort of a relationship with them; but not friendship
- Quick test: People you don’t really like … are they at your BBQ?
- But God does something wonderful here to show His grace exposed
-- Not only are we allowed to be in relationship; but friendship
- Psalm 8:4 asks, “What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?”
- John 15:15 – Jesus declares, “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.”
- God affirms to Moses, “I will be your God”
-- I will be the one whom you can be intimate with; to show agape love
-- I will be the one who will stand beside you, and hold you up in tough times
-- I will be the one who will never abandon you when you are in need
-- I will be the one who walks with you; even on the terribly challenging days
- Psalm 116:2, “Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live.”
- TRANS: Being in friendship with God: What kind of life does like that bring?
∆ Point 6 – The I will of blessing
- The I will of blessing, “I will bring you to the land”
- God always promised a restoration to the land that was rightfully theirs
-- But more than that, for us today, God promises to give you what you need
- God’s declaration to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob was a tenant of faith
-- It was a promise that began in Genesis 12: 1-3 (Abrahamic Covenant):
-- “The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
- APP: Moses was told: these people will be brought to the land I’ve promised
- We know that Moses and Aaron did not enter the land (b/c of own rebellion)
-- (Ref Numbers 20) Told to speak to the rock for water and instead struck it twice
-- Numbers 20:12, “But the Lord said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”
- APP: God’s promise was still true, but these two missed out on it
-- God said He would bring them to the land, and He did, but they missed out
-- This should be a warning to us; we can still be secure – but miss out on blessing
- IMP: The people’s promise was not dependent on Moses’s obedience
-- It was fulfilled because God had called them ALL to be His people and submit
- APP: Your promise is not dependent on my life and vice-versa
-- We are dependent to receive from God because of God’s promise (Christ)
- TRANS: And what is that we shall receive?
∆ Point 7 – The I will of inheritance
- The I will of inheritance, “I will give it to you as a possession”
- Following right along with the blessing is what it is we shall receive
-- We shall receive His grace which leads us to a very unique place in our life
-- 2 Corinthians 6:18 says, “And, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
- The inheritance is not the deed to the house that uncle so and so left us
-- But, it’s the promise of eternity because of the One who declares it will be done!
-- God gave them land to show His promise; covenant
-- He gave us His Son to show us His commitment; avenue of Grace
-- Why would we not want to give everything we are and have back to Him?
∆ Big Ideas
- Big Question: Who is it that does these things? “I am the Lord”
-- Are we submitting to Him or still living as consultants to God?
-- Receiving the full portion of His grace depends on our answer to that
- Pray
