Preparing Ourselves for God’s Covenant
Covenants purpose
Covenants acceptance or rejection
Covenants of God require sanctification
DBF, 12/1/02
What a glorious week of giving thanksgiving to God we had last week. In giving thanksgiving I collected lots of photos from years past and went through them, scanning some and just going over the years that God was so good to me and my family even when I did not live my life in a manner that was pleasing to God.
You see for those years, I did go to a church, I did attend the Lord’s Supper, I did go through all of the Holy Sacraments through Marriage, and I even served in the church.
The one thing that was sorely missing in my life, as is in all the lives of people who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior, is that I was not daily striving through meditating on God’s word, enjoying Christian fellowship with my brothers and sisters, being continually at “Hopeful” prayer for God’s will in the lives of people around me and my own, and seeking the things that God was opening up around me to become part of HIS great work.
There is a necessity for “sanctification” to accompany “true salvation”. This process is necessarily started upon the true acceptance of Jesus Christ into one’s life.
When I married Gloria, I had no idea of what it was to be married. I was still a person who was fiercely independent and wanted to make up my own mind to do what I wanted to do.
God called us to become a completion. This is something I did not come to realize until after my acceptance of Jesus Christ in 1988.
Just as the ring we use to signify the covenant of marriage is perfect and completely round, so should we strive to be in our walk with God through the blessed work of Jesus Christ.
I had to learn how to be a husband, a father, a friend, and a brother.
Why would it be any different in becoming a good follower of Christ?
It isn’t, we must learn how to be a Christian or more Christ-like on a continuing basis…this is the process called the “Sanctification Process’.
Let’s walk with the nation of Israel as they start to prepare to receive the “Mosaic Covenant” and seek the truths that God would call us too.
Covenants purpose
Exodus 19:1-6 (KJV)
In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai. [2] For they were departed from Rephidim, and were come to the desert of Sinai, and had pitched in the wilderness; and there Israel camped before the mount. [3] And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel; [4] Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself. [5] 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: [6] And 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.
In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai…Several people feel the significance of this date to be in line with one of three different views.
The third month—This was called Sivan, and corresponds to May.
The same day—The three opinions concerning the meaning of this place are:
1.The same day means the same day of the third month with that, meaning the 15th, on
which the Israelites had left Egypt.
2.The same day signifies here a day of the same number with the month to which it
is applied, meaning, the third day of the third month.
3.By the same day, the first day of the month is intended. The Jews celebrate the
feast of pentecost fifty days after the passover: from the departure out of Egypt to
the coming to Sinai were forty-five days; for they came out the fifteenth day of the
first month, from which day to the first of the third month forty-five days are
numbered. On the 2d day of this third month Moses went up into the mountain,
when three days were given to the people to purify themselves; this gives the
fourth day of the third month, or the forty-ninth from the departure out of Egypt.
On the next day, which was the fiftieth from the celebration of the passover, the
glory of God appeared on the mount; in commemoration of which the Jews
celebrate the feast of pentecost. This also corresponds to Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, HIS 40 days spent with HIS disciples, and the sending down of the Holy Spirit to guide them on the 50th day after his death during the Pentecost.
and there Israel camped before the mount…Alas Moses returns to the place where God had called him to go to his people. The name Horeb was probably its most ancient name, and might designate the whole mountain; but as the Lord had appeared to Moses on this mountain in a bush äðñ seneh, Exodus 3:2, from this circumstance it might have received the name of Sinai or éðéñ øä har Sinai, the mount of the bush or the mount of bushes; for it is possible that it was not in a single bush, but in a thicket of bushes, that the Angel of God made his appearance. Other names by which the mountain is known are: by the Arabs Jibel Mousa or the Mount of Moses, or, by way of eminence, El Tor, THE Mount. It is one hill, with two peaks or summits; one is called Horeb, the other Sinai.
Why so much travel to come back to the place God first spoke to Moses?
Well, Moses like you and I had daily choices, whether to continue to serve God or to serve himself in a pity party or run the other way.
Moses led faithfully the commands of God and has now returned to the Mountain of God, where God will give HIS covenant to HIS people.
[3] And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord called unto him out of the mountain, saying, Thus shalt thou say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel…Moses goes to inquire of God.
Is this something that you do often? Or only in times of dire emergency?
God waits for us to come to HIM and talk to HIM and seek HIS guidance in our lives and work. We should continually do as Moses and seek God’s face and when God moves us to tell…we need to “Go tell it on the Mountain” not far away but at a level and volume above the dredges of life giving people the “HOPE” that can only come from God.
and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself…Let us never forget that it is God who bares us and our burdens and God who has brought any who call upon the name of Jesus Christ to HIMSELF. He alone is able to bare up against any weight that comes before us.
[6] And 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…What is our purpose in life?
God answers this question right here. We are to become people who care for and about God’s people, preparing ourselves continually to be the shepherds of God’s flock…not lording over them as some are accustomed to doing.
If the most important person in your congregation is the Priest or the Pastor, your fellowship is upside down. The most important persons are the ones God has put us here to serve…always remember this as Jesus Christ came to become the servant of all who believed.
We are also to be a holy “Set apart” nation. This means that we are to walk in all the commandments that God has laid before us in HIS word.
Why? Because you and I can only choose to “obey or to disobey”.
Covenants acceptance or rejection
Exodus 19:7-9 (KJV)
And Moses came and called for the elders of the people, and laid before their faces all these words which the Lord commanded him. [8] And all the people answered together, and said, All that the Lord hath spoken we will do. And Moses returned the words of the people unto the Lord. [9] And the Lord said unto Moses, Lo, I come unto thee in a thick cloud, that the people may hear when I speak with thee, and believe thee for ever. And Moses told the words of the people unto the Lord.
Moses goes to the elders, this is wise to bring things to the people who have the most experience, knowledge and resources in a community.
Being around the Alaska Native Culture I appreciate the manner in which they respect and honor their elders. It saddens me that in our world and in many of our churches we do not do such a good job of this. God’s word is plain that we are to respect our elders…do so.
The nation then responds…we will do all that the Lord Commanded.
This is good to say, the keeping of this is the thing that proves problematic.
Some come and say, I choose to accept you Lord Jesus. Then when they go home people tell them that it is not the way and they will not be able to drink, have sex, do drugs like they did before and they fall away, never truly making a commitment and counting the cost of the discipleship of a true believer.
You see only “you” can fall away from God, because God loves you and HE always will. If anything is wrong in your relationship, your communities relationship, are your country’s relationship to God, it is the fault of the other side of the equation and not “God”. You need to know this. “God is light in him is no Darkness at all.” “He is faithful and just.”
Remember this and if you are falling away, fall to your knees in repentance before God.
Come back to the relationship God longs to have with you.
Covenants of God require sanctification
Exodus 19:10-25 (KJV)
And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, [11] And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai. [12] And thou shalt set bounds unto the people round about, saying, Take heed to yourselves, that ye go not up into the mount, or touch the border of it: whosoever toucheth the mount shall be surely put to death: [13] There shall not an hand touch it, but he shall surely be stoned, or shot through; whether it be beast or man, it shall not live: when the trumpet soundeth long, they shall come up to the mount.
[14] And Moses went down from the mount unto the people, and sanctified the people; and they washed their clothes. [15] And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.
[16] And it came to pass on the third day in the morning, that there were thunders and lightnings, and a thick cloud upon the mount, and the voice of the trumpet exceeding loud; so that all the people that was in the camp trembled. [17] And Moses brought forth the people out of the camp to meet with God; and they stood at the nether part of the mount. [18] And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly. [19] And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spake, and God answered him by a voice. [20] And the Lord came down upon mount Sinai, on the top of the mount: and the Lord called Moses up to the top of the mount; and Moses went up. [21] And the Lord said unto Moses, Go down, charge the people, lest they break through unto the Lord to gaze, and many of them perish. [22] And let the priests also, which come near to the Lord, sanctify themselves, lest the Lord break forth upon them. [23] And Moses said unto the Lord, The people cannot come up to mount Sinai: for thou chargedst us, saying, Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it. [24] And the Lord said unto him, Away, get thee down, and thou shalt come up, thou, and Aaron with thee: but let not the priests and the people break through to come up unto the Lord, lest he break forth upon them. [25] So Moses went down unto the people, and spake unto them.
And the Lord said unto Moses, Go unto the people, and sanctify them to day and to morrow, and let them wash their clothes, [11] And be ready against the third day: for the third day the Lord will come down in the sight of all the people upon mount Sinai...Here God calls Moses and the nation to sanctify themselves before HIM.
They are to clean themselves, not have sexual relationships for this three day period. In other words, come before ME and give yourself and your time and energy to meditating upon ME your God.
Today some group would jump up and say “Well obviously God has put the women into and overly submissive role, what if she wished to have contact with her husband, doesn’t she have the right to do so”?
The simple answer is we all have rights in this world and rights in the kingdom of God if we choose to sanctify ourselves to God. We can give up rights in this world to acquire the eternal rights of life in Christ Jesus or we can insist on our rights from the worlds views and lose the peace that could be ours in this life and in the everlasting life that comes with a price of sanctification.
I again am amazed that in God’s perfect ordering of things he chooses a three day sanctification period. It certainly causes me to look forward to Calvary and should cause any who do not count Calvary as their starting point to look back to Calvary.
Jesus Christ was killed on that cruel, cruel cross so that all who believed on HIM might not perish but have eternal life.
Jesus was crucified, died, and was buried and on the third day HE rose again to the glory of God the Father. This is the sanctification and covenant to which I come and one that I take seriously, because Jesus Christ took it seriously when HE went through the cross for me and for all who would believe.
Set bounds about the mount, and sanctify it…Do we have bounds set about us today?
You see this is a requirement of a covenant and really we have proven over and over again that boundaries are a safety net. God set bounds for the nation of Israel to keep them safe, to keep them from harm and pain and grief and sin.
As a Probation Officer we ask parents and guardians to set appropriate “boundaries”? I am coming to realize that many parents have no idea what a boundary is.
You mean I can tell my child that they cannot have a toy?
That I can tell my child they cannot see a specific individual?
That I can deny my child’s wishes to make all of the decisions in their lives that they are not prepared to make?
Yes, because God shows us that we are to set bounds for the people we love, and if we are called to be “Christians”, our love has to be necessarily broad because the love of Christ is within us.
You may be asking today, “But how can I come to the point of recognizing if I belong to a covenant, or how do I come into a covenant?”
This is a blessing indeed and readily available to each of us who call upon the name of the Lord.
Of course we must ask ourselves, Have I truly given myself fully to Jesus Christ or have I asked HIM to come into my heart?
This is the only way that God is able to start to work and lead in our lives. God wants the very best for us who call upon His name.
Are you prepared to call upon the name of the Lord today?
Are you tired of the hopelessness that you wake up to each day, the loneliness and the emptiness. God is waiting to start to fill that void in your life. The gaping hole that we each have within our heart can only be filled by the way, the truth, and the life of Jesus Christ. If you would like to make this decision today, I ask you to come forward.
If you would just like to come forward and get right with God, let Him know that you understand now what it is He would have you to do we ask you to come.
As with the Nation of Israel, we are all called to walk in the covenant that God lays before us. Many of us shun any responsibility or action because we claim that we are not worthy. This is simply not true, because it is Christ that brings any good things about that we are part of. In any striving for Christ remember--We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. God’s words—Stand strong in them and in HIM.
If anyone has any prayer needs are prayer concerns, we ask that you give them at this time. We would love to pray with and for you and your loved ones. We serve a great and glorious God who cared enough about His creation to send His only begotten son to die for us. Bring you requests to Him, for He alone is able to bring them to pass.
Closing Prayer.
Ranger1401@hotmail.com
Dillingham Bible Fellowship
PO Box 1042
Dillingham, AK 99576
