The team arrived promptly at 8:45. People slowly started to arrive for worship. Gregg shared with me how they do not get in a hurry even on Sunday. Slowly as the morning progressed adults and children entered the church doors. As always there is more children than adults. Several of the church members along with Taylor, Rachel and Marie shared in music. The three North American ladies sang "It is Well". One of the ladies of the church read from Galatians 2:20 as everyone stood to read God's word.
It was time for Pastor Robert to bring the sermon. As he made his way to the pulpit the children existed to go to Sunday School. There was quiet a few young adults left sitting to hear what Pastor Robert had to share on this very warm Sunday morning.
Pastor Robert read from Numbers 15:37-41. Before he started the sermon he shared how a year ago we came along side of each of you to build this church to reach out to the surrounding community to bring the lost to Christ. To be able to worship here for the first time is a joy and very humbling. But the church is not a building it is the people who make up the church.
As Pastor Robert started his sermon he shared how God commanded Moses to obey and tell the people:
1. vs 41 I am the Lord your God. God brought the people out of Egypt. He was reminding the people where He brought them from. Egypt represents the sin in our lives. The condition the people were in was slavery, bondage, oppression and controlled by the Egyptians. Before we receive Christ that is our condition, in slave to sin, in bondage, oppressed and controlled by the evil one. Out of Ephesians 2:1. 12-13 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. As vs 13 says there is hope. We can be brought of the darkness into the light coming out of Ephesians 2:4-6.
2. vs. 39 Remember who we can count on: Do not follow your own heart and mind. We cannot trust ourselves because our flesh is compelled to sin. Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Only God can help us and lead us in the right directions.
3. vs 40 What we are to do: Remember His commandments and do them. Be holy to God. We are not to just know His Words but to do His Words. Live them out daily. Pastor Robert asked the question to the congregation "Do you love Jesus?" Then he read the scripture out John 14:16 "If you love me then you will keep my commandments." Prostrating ourselves with our eyes and heart to the following of the world. We need to follow Jesus if we truly love Him.
4. vs 41 Remember what you are: We are HIS chosen ones. God brought us out of Egypt. We do not have the power to save ourselves. This is what we should look like: Colossians 3:12 "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." 1 Peter 2:9 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." Colossians 3:12 wears very well on a Christian but what does not wear well is pride, lust, jealously and desires of our own heart. Jesus is powerful enough to break down the barriers of sin in our lives. Only Jesus through His blood shed on the cross for our sins. Our sins he died a brutal death and all we have to do his accept this precious gift of eternal life and be His chosen ones.
In verse 38 they were given a symbol of who they were. They wore a blue cord on their robes so each morning when they woke up they would be reminded of whose they were. During the day they would see others wearing the blue cord on their robes once again reminding them of whose they were. In the evening as they prepare for bed and take off their robes they are reminded by seeing the blue cord whose they were. They knew who they were which enable them to live out the commandments God told them to obey. They were His chosen ones. "Who you are and whose you are will fortify your faith for the future.
Who are you today? And whose are you? Do you belong to a fallen and dark world? Or are you living out your life as God's chosen ones. I urge you desperately today if you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior please find someone and learn more about this wonderful gift, eternal life. Our only hope in this dark world is Jesus Christ and He is the light of the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment