God’s Commandment’s
Commandments relating to God
Commandments relating to other men and women
Commandments response by men and women
DBF Sunday Sermon, 12/8/02
I see a lot of youth who have been accused of breaking a commandment or law of the State of Alaska.
Does my jaw drop anymore?
Not very often. You see, I know that daily people are breaking commandments who do not get caught, and feel perfectly fine with themselves for doing so.
When I was born and raised in the Atchafalaya Basin in Louisiana, I spent the greater part of my life around Duck Lake, West Fork, Bayou Long, Bayou Reboutte, Bayou Savalle, the Big and Little pipelines, Grande Lake and the Bayou Boutee.
I am a person of French Acadian decent, who’s ancestors came into the swamps of Louisiana in or around 1755, when they were forcibly removed from the area known as Acadia in what is now known as Nova Scotia, Canada.
We settled in the swamps of Louisiana figuring that if any other country tried to kick us out it would be much more difficult to find us scattered about in our little villages that were not connected by roads, our connection was through the swamp and bayous.
This history was one of the underlying reasons I was raised not to have very much respect as a child for the Fish and Game laws of the United States or of Louisiana. You see since we were here, my ancestors, before any of these laws or law making entities were here, how could they regulate what we had done for the prior 250 plus years in our swamps.
I really felt that this law did not apply to me, so when I went out and killed Wood ducks, Grosbeck, Pooldo, or any of the other game animals we ate, I was just doing what we had done to prepare ourselves to be ready to beat the British back in 1814 and the new U.S. government owed us a debt of gratitude for our part in that anyway.
Well, in 1977 I joined the Air Force and much to my shock and surprise they made me a law enforcement officer.
I could not imagine why in the world anybody would have chosen someone who was known as a big fish and game outlaw…to be a policeman???
I praise God for HIS providential wisdom in that selection and getting me on the road to seeing a bigger picture.
If I had stayed in the swamps of Louisiana, I would probably feel pretty much the same, which is the way I see most Alaska Native’s thoughts on fish and game.
It is ours, it has always been ours, and we will hunt it until it is all gone.
An uncle of mine asked me once if I was ready to leave the swamps. He told me that because of my eye and my gun, I would seriously deplete the game in the swamp. He said most people go through the swamp and miss animals here and their, but many knew that when I went through the swamp, if it showed its eyes it came into the boat.
You see, even though my thoughts may have been right in my mind relative to my rights, the laws that were set were to preserve animals for hunting and trapping for my sons, grandsons, and their dependents.
God sought to give us laws to preserve us, our children, their children and all to whom they would come into contact with. Let us walk with Moses today as he receives the law from the very voice of God.
Commandments relating to God
Exodus 20:1-11 (KJV)
And God spake all these words, saying, [2] I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; [6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. [7] Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. [8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: [11] For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
And God spake all these words…The God Jehovah spoke these words to the nation of Israel.
Does that make a difference to you?
God speaks to us in HIS word today, the Holy Word of God the Bible, by and through the Living Word Jesus Christ, mediated and brought to remembrance by the Holy Spirit given of God, for the purpose of bringing to remembrance all of the things that Jesus had said and done. This should be the manner in which you approach the bible for we fully believe that this is the complete word of God.
[2] I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. [3] Thou shalt have no other gods before me. [4] Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: [5] Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; [6] And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments…Do you hear the words of God echoing to you and me today?
It is as relevant in my life today, because God brought me from my land of enslavement through Jesus Christ the same way he provided the way for the nation of Israel and directs you and I to have no false God’s before us.
In this multimedia age there are so many God’s that people place before Jehovah that it should not amaze anyone that people lose their ways.
The God’s of video, pornography, music videos, movie stars, music stars, political stars, sports stars at the national and local levels, cars, homes, boats, fish and game are all more highly sought after than our God who called us to be “set apart” unto him.
If you have glimpsed yourself in any of the above, you need to get right with God, who brought you out of the land of captivity.
Why you might ask? I’m doing OK. Well, brother or sister, I will just say that if you are not willing to do it for God and yourself, then at least do it so that your children and grandchildren will be well.
Well, God wouldn’t do that. No, your right, God doesn’t do that, but you do in your ignorance of the word of God. Your sinfulness and the consequences of that sinfulness is what is visited upon your generations to the third and fourth generations.
Is that scary? It is meant to be? We are called to be a “peculiar” people unto God.
In that “peculiarity” is God’s blessings upon us and our children.
[7] Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain…This is something that I hear a lot by people who call themselves believers. In many different colorful ways they use “Jesus ______, God _____, I’ll kick your God …., and many other manners. One word, BEWARE. God says HE will not hold you blameless for your words.
I also see people that put other words in place of God, which is no better and the same word BEWARE applies to you. Get right, and get right with God.
[8] Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. [9] Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: [10] But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: [11] For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
We as people who call upon the name of Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior observe the first day of the week as our day of worship and rest. This we do first because it is the day that Christ arose and because that is the New Testament example that is set by the Apostles of Christ.
But in reality, we should set every day apart for God as “special” because of the great change he has brought into our lives. That it is important to set this day apart is shown in God’s blessings for the 40 years of wandering and the double portion of manna on the sixth day for the nation of Israel. We should understand that a nation that keeps this will be blessed. We are such a nation today in need of great blessings.
Commandments relating to other men and women
Exodus 20:12-17 (KJV)
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. [13] Thou shalt not kill. [14] Thou shalt not commit adultery. [15] Thou shalt not steal. [16] Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. [17] Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee…This has to be a pretty big deal if you think of how many times this is repeated throughout God’s word.
The current culture really strains this commandment. Most show’s for youth today, show parents as “not very worthy” or honor. If this is true parent’s you need to change to become an honorable parent. If you are an honorable parent then children you are required to honor them. The purpose is twofold:
The first is to give a parent that is doing the things that God would have them to do in an orderly God like fashion the “honor” they deserves. The second is that the child may be blessed and grow into a parent that will likewise be “honored” for bringing about what is that “Good and perfect will of God” in their lives.
Thou shalt not kill…We are called not to spill innocent blood.
This is different from going to war when God leads us to a righteous conflict. God sent Joshua, Gideon, Saul, and David to war, and HE upheld them in battle. God has and will use righteous people to keep the ungodly from destroying HIS innocent people, if that people turn to God and ask for HIM to be their God.
Thou shalt not commit adultery…I hear a lot about education in this area, the one thing I do not hear is a push to be chaste and to maintain one’s virginity until you are married. This is what God truly calls us too. Many put their own moral ideas into this, BEWARE, do not, God’s intent for all of HIS favored people is purity.
Thou shalt not steal…This mean any manner of taking something that you have not labored for from anyone that deserves recompense for their labors. This means that if someone at the post office gives me a package that does not belong to me, I need to return it. This means that if a cashier gives me back more than I should receive, that I give it back. This means that if someone gives me something that I feel is above their ability or means that I give it back, or better yet never accept it in the first place. BEWARE…
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour…We are called not to lie against our neighbor. This should necessarily include all within your fellowship, community, state, nation and world.
We should be careful, BEWARE…of people who traffic in this type of activity and if we truly love them and “Hope” for them to become more Christ like in their lives we should tell them that God calls us to a higher walk.
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
God’s word tells us in Proverbs that we should not cast our heads to and fro because when we see things of others then we desire things that we should not.
Simply God is telling us to be content with the blessings HE brings into our lives. My neighbor’s blessings, wife or any other possessions are not my own. Remember God is our exceeding “Great Reward”.
Commandments response by men and women
Exodus 20:18-26 (KJV)
And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off. [19] And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. [20] And Moses said unto the people, Fear not: for God is come to prove you, and that his fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not. [21] And the people stood afar off, and Moses drew near unto the thick darkness where God was.
[22] And the Lord said unto Moses, Thus thou shalt say unto the children of Israel, Ye have seen that I have talked with you from heaven. [23] Ye shall not make with me gods of silver, neither shall ye make unto you gods of gold.
[24] An altar of earth thou shalt make unto me, and shalt sacrifice thereon thy burnt offerings, and thy peace offerings, thy sheep, and thine oxen: in all places where I record my name I will come unto thee, and I will bless thee. [25] And if thou wilt make me an altar of stone, thou shalt not build it of hewn stone: for if thou lift up thy tool upon it, thou hast polluted it. [26] Neither shalt thou go up by steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon.
This word tells us it is good to have reverent fear of the Lord God.
Hebrews 12:18-20 (KJV)
For ye are not come unto the mount that might be touched, and that burned with fire, nor unto blackness, and darkness, and tempest, [19] And the sound of a trumpet, and the voice of words; which voice they that heard intreated that the word should not be spoken to them any more: [20] (For they could not endure that which was commanded, And if so much as a beast touch the mountain, it shall be stoned, or thrust through with a dart:
You see we have been blessed by our association with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit which was sent down of God to lead us in the word and in the ways of Jesus Christ. God’s word plainly tells us that, the words of the law alone could not be followed, the meaning of the commandment could not be endured. Well, it is the same for you and I today, for apart from Jesus Christ’s work in our lives, apart from the free grace of God given when we accept Jesus Christ, apart from the Holy Spirit leading us in the truth of the word to be more Christ like in our daily walk, we could not come close to keeping the law either.
God here also calls Israel to come to him modestly. The very best we can bring to HIM is ourselves in modesty. Nothing that I make myself out to be is of any value to HIM. The things that the least of us is able to become in God, is of great value to God, because of our modesty.
We know that when questioned as to the most important of the laws, Jesus’ reply was that we were to “Love the LORD your God with all of your heart, soul, and mind, the second most important is to love your neighbor as yourself. In doing these the rest of the law will be realized.
Jesus was simply telling us that if we loved God as we truly should we could not kill, steal, covet, or seek other things above HIM.
I pray that this is where you are today. If not, this is where God is calling you to be?
Of course, you cannot even begin to understand this unless and until you have called upon the name of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and asked HIM into your heart.
For any to come to the place where we are able to walk in the manner in which God calls us we are first required to call upon the only name by which any may be saved. Our bibles tell us that we must all call upon the name of “Jesus Christ”. It is through HIM that we are able to come into the presence of our God and King.
If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, we ask you consider it wisely today.
You know, life was difficult for the Israelites and life is difficult today—one slight misstep might mean death. Things have not changed much 3000 years later—one slight misstep by you are I could result in death. If anyone dies apart from Christ, they will be condemned to Hell and damnation, that is the word of God.
No one knows the amount of time that God has allotted you. Choose life, eternal life today. If you would like to insure that you will go to heaven we ask that you come forward now.
We would love to pray for you, if you are your family have any prayer needs. Remember God does have laws that HE expects HIS people to walk in. Stay in HIS word daily and you will be guided and strengthened in your God-ward direction.
Closing Prayer.
Bruce Landry
ranger1401@hotmail.com
Contributions to this Alaska Native Outreach Ministry may be sent to:
Dillingham Bible Fellowship
PO Box 1042
Dillingham, AK 99576
May God richly bless you as you continue to seek HIS face.
