The Deliverer

Faithful Husband

Hosea 1: 2,3, 6-9

Introduction

Faithlessness is rampant. Who do we trust? People lie to protect themselves and hide their shame. In building teams, it is important that people are open and honest with one another. This helps me see the issues faced in interpersonal relationships:

The fundamental attribution error is simply this:  human beings tend to falsely attribute the negative behaviors of others to their character (an internal attribution), while they attribute their own negative behaviors to their environment (an external attribution).  Why?  Because we like to believe that we do bad things because of the situations we are in, but somehow, we easily come to the conclusion that others do bad things because they are predisposed to being bad.  (Similarly, we often attribute other people’s success to their environment and our own success to our character.  That’s because we like to believe that we are inherently good and talented, while others are merely lucky, beneficiaries of good fortune.) from Patrick Lencioni.

Read text.

What a crazy event and explain. Why was it so important for the prophet to do this? And how does this show us Jesus in the OT?

1. It demonstrates how people gradually move towards sin and get in deeper without recognizing it, and also feel justified in explaining it away.
2. It shows how far we drift from a real and vital relationship with God, and each other.
3. It shows the problems Jesus faced when he came.
4. And it shows how he patiently dealt with our blindness of heart.
5. Finally it shows his amazing love in redeeming us from the very sins that keep us captive.

Hosea 1: 2,3, 6-9

“Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants. Yet you are looking for a way to kill me, because you have no room for my word. I am telling you what I have seen in the Father’s presence, and you are doing what you have heard from your father.” “Abraham is our father,” they answered. “If you were Abraham’s children,” said Jesus, “then you would do what Abraham did. As it is, you are looking for a way to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. Abraham did not do such things. You are doing the works of your own father.” “We are not illegitimate children,” they protested. “The only Father we have is God himself.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on my own; God sent me. Why is my language not clear to you? Because you are unable to hear what I say. You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Yet because I tell the truth, you do not believe me! Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.””

John 8:34-47 

“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.”

Ephesians 5:25-32 

“Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!””

Mark 2:8-12 

“Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.” Then the disciples came to him and asked, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this?” He replied, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be pulled up by the roots. Leave them; they are blind guides. If the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit.” Peter said, “Explain the parable to us.” “Are you still so dull?” Jesus asked them. “Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.””

Matthew 15:10-20 

“This is the way of an adulterous woman: She eats and wipes her mouth, and says, “I have done no wrong.””

Proverbs 30:20 

“The Pharisees and Sadducees came up, and putting Jesus to the test, they asked Him to show them a sign from heaven. But He replied to them, “When it is evening, you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.’ And in the morning, ‘There will be a storm today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but are you unable to discern the signs of the times? An evil and adulterous generation wants a sign; and so a sign will not be given to it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.”

Matthew 16:1-4 

Mark 8 – Blind man touched twice. And disciples see Jesus properly. 

“And they *came to Bethsaida. And some people *brought a man who was blind to Jesus and *begged Him to touch him. Taking the man who was blind by the hand, He brought him out of the village; and after spitting in his eyes and laying His hands on him, He asked him, “Do you see anything?” And he looked up and said, “I see people, for I see them like trees, walking around.” Then again He laid His hands on his eyes; and he looked intently and was restored, and began to see everything clearly. And He sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.” Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” They told Him, saying, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” And He continued questioning them: “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and *said to Him, “You are the Christ.” And He warned them to tell no one about Him.”

Mark 8:22-30 

“Therefore, rid yourselves of all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, and like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord.”

1 Peter 2:1-3 

“For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, And the one who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for unbelievers, “A stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief cornerstone,” and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed.”

1 Peter 2:6-8

The Covenant Keeper

2 Samuel 9:6-8

Introduction

Jesus in Moses and the Prophets.  We get some beautiful pictures of Jesus that help us understand who he is, and how amazing his love for us is! Seeing him demonstrated through history in so many ways, not just through prophecies, but through the lives of those who believe and trusted in God long before Jesus came.  We can trust God’s Love, God’s Word, and God’s Character.  “We can see that his love is compellingly intentional. It is not random nor sporadic. It is utterly reliable and full of purpose.”

Last week we saw in the life of David, that he foreshadowed Jesus by being a prophet, priest, and king. Today I want to look at how David was a covenant keeper.

Read Text

The Story! It all starts with a relationship between David and Jonathan. After David kills Goliath in 1 Samuel 17, David and Jonathan enter into a covenant. “Now it came about, when he had finished speaking to Saul, that Jonathan committed himself to David, and Jonathan loved him as himself. And Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house. Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his military gear, including his sword, his bow, and his belt.”

1 Samuel 18:1-4

The nature of a covenant is that all you have, all your potential, all your life, and all those who are in your seed, all you will ever be is given to your covenant partner. It was usually sealed by blood since life is in the blood. 

So, the death of Jonathan caused his son to grow up in fear of David, and believe his life was ruined by him. When he is found, he assumes he will be killed as an enemy who wants to subvert David’s kingdom.  Thus, his response is amazement.

The focus though is for us to see Jesus as the covenant keeper.  Look at what Jesus does in creating a covenant with his father, in his own blood. That means that all who are in the blood of Jesus are recipients of all he gets from his Father! 

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17

The sign of the covenant – includes blood! Let it be unto me like this, if I do not keep this covenant!

“It is you who are the sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God ordained with your fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’ God raised up His Servant for you first and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.””

Acts 3:25-26 

“God said further to Abraham, “Now as for you, you shall keep My covenant, you and your descendants after you throughout their generations. This is My covenant, which you shall keep, between Me and you and your descendants after you: every male among you shall be circumcised. And you shall be circumcised in the flesh of your foreskin, and it shall be the sign of the covenant between Me and you.”

Genesis 17:9-11

“And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants, heirs according to promise.” Galatians 3:29 

The faithfulness of the covenant keeper – in word, including promises:

“I will not violate My covenant, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.” Psalms 89:34 

“Know therefore that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant and His faithfulness to a thousand generations for those who love Him and keep His commandments;” Deuteronomy 7:9 

“¶He has remembered His covenant forever, the word which He commanded to a thousand generations, The covenant which He made with Abraham, And His oath to Isaac.” Psalms 105:8-9

Our signs of the covenant: baptism at the start and communion to constantly remind us of who we are!

Baptism as a sign of entering the covenant. “Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far away, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”” Acts 2:38-39

“And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup, which is poured out for you, is the new covenant in My blood.” Luke 22:20 

Our confidence and role in the covenant - “Such is the confidence we have toward God through Christ. Not that we are adequate in ourselves so as to consider anything as having come from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God, who also made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” 2 Corinthians 3:4-6 

Are you in Christ? You can’t fool God and you can’t pretend to be what you are not. You want the benefits of the covenant, then you must be born again.  

Prophet, Priest, King

2 Samuel 7:12-16

Introduction

The mystery of 3 – everything seems to come in threes. 

David and Jesus are keenly related in the Messianic passages. Primarily in 2 Samuel as we continue from Moses to the Prophets.

The Prophecy of Nathan that points to Jesus.

The Threefold Anointing on David as Prophet Priest and King, as pointing to the Anointing on Jesus!

They both are:

Priests

Kings

Prophets

What this means to us!

Finishing the Race

2 Timothy 4:7,8

Liberty Church Birmingham

Sunday, October 8, 2023

1. Appreciation for Liberty Church – John Snow, David and Betty McCutchen and Ferrell Maughan were my first supporters, and continued after I married Jan. Bill Stamp, Bruce, Jeff Cato, and Ferrell visited us. Many wrote encouragement. Bill introduced us to Globe International in 85 and Liberty Fellowship the next year at Norman Park. 
2. Thank you, Bruce, for helping me finish this book. He suggested we launch it here today. And will be in the back room to sign copies for those who wish to make a donation for one to reach an Unreached people group in northern Mozambique. Providing local evangelists, trained by our German missionaries, motors cycles and bicycles to reach distant villages where you follow goat paths and cross torrent rivers in a canoe. – this book includes several events from here including one of Jerry Strong. How a German youth help a WWII vet get deliverance.
3. Finishing the race – a scripture for finishing well, spiritual warfare, and funerals.  What if it applies to God and is prophetic in a way that OT scriptures are? What if Paul writes it as pertaining to himself, but God inspires it because it also applies to Jesus and his work, specifically his work by the Holy Spirit in us? It could apply to his work on the cross, as well as his work through the church until the great and glorious day when he appears, and we all enter heaven. But that is a very western mindset to this problem. Always a focus on the winner!

1. When you think of races like the Marathon, you don’t know many if any of the participants. Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya holds the world record and 2 Gold medals in the Olympic Marathon will try for a 3rd in Paris next year.  That seems to be focus of our society as we hold such accomplishments in high esteem. Selfish Ambition can easily become a downfall for anyone. But two races impress me and give me a new sense of understanding regarding Gods plans and intentions: the Iditarod race is a grueling difficult race in March in Alaska, and it is not over until the last team arrives at the finish line.  The concern is for all to reach the goal! The Dream Marathon is unique in the fact that the established runners train the new runners personally 22 weeks before the race and when the first ones reach the finish line they return to the last ones and run with them encouraging them to finish as well! Here the whole idea is that the whole group is involved in the whole group! 

1. Look at this from God’s perspective it is not over until all ethnic people groups, language groups, cultures, races, are represented at the marriage feast of the lamb! Until All who call upon the name of the Lord are saved, it is not over! Until all have heard and have had a chance to respond, the race is not over! It will not be accomplished without more dedicated career missionaries that is for sure!  Pray to the Lord of the harvest that he will cast out more into the white, ready and prepared harvest fields! But we need more than those who will sacrifice to go, we need those who will commit to do the praying, encouraging, communicating, visiting, pastoring those who have gone! We need an army who see that church is not where we go to be entertained, but where we learn how to serve, how to invest in people, how to give what is needed in the Kingdom of God.  It is not about a few doing the most, it is about us all moving together as the Holy Spirit directs us. Not listening to the myriad of voices but following the one! The task of reaching the Lost is our task together. Wherever they are found.

Jesus, Not Just Any Priest

Hebrews 7-11

What do you think about when you hear the word “Priest”?

Our picture is often marred by various movies, novels, and pictures.  Imagine Jesus being like a priest in one of those shows like Balleykissangel. 

The order of Melchizedek- righteousness and peace Gen.: 14:18-20 and Psalm 110:4

See how Jesus is a high priest from a different law! Hebrews 8:1-6 a better priest!

Jesus inaugurates a new Covenant like Jeremiah prophesied: Jeremiah 31:31-34 quoted in Hebrews 8, see last verse.

The outer sanctuary and the Holy Place Hebrews 9:1-5

The job of the high priest – replaced by Jesus! Hebrews 9:8,11,14-17

The need for blood to activate the covenant. Hebrews 9:21-28

The old law does not make perfect! Psalm 40 speaks of one to come later! Psalm 40:6-8

Hebrews 10:1,4,9,10 shows the eternal work of Jesus!

By faith the early believers were looking for a better country, an eternal one! Hebrews 11:13-16

We have come to Mt. Zion and an unshakable Kingdom! Hebrews 12:22-24;

Don’t mess it up – give him your acceptable service!  25-28!

“And Melchizedek the king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has handed over your enemies to you.” And he gave him a tenth of everything.”

Genesis 14:18-20 

“The Lord has sworn And will not relent, “You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.””

Psalms 110:4 

““Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah— not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt, My covenant which they broke, though I was a husband to them, says the Lord. But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the Lord: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. No more shall every man teach his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they all shall know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, says the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more.””

Jeremiah 31:31-34 

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire; My ears You have opened. Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require. Then I said, “Behold, I come; In the scroll of the book it is written of me. I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart.””

Psalms 40:6-8 

The Pattern of Heaven

Exodus 25:1-9

Introduction

A trip through cathedrals – illiterate people and keeping the faith by art and sculptures.

A lot of history in these amazing structures: major events, burials, events that moved the world to remember: Luther nailing his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg that began a reformation! Or the move in Leipzig that brought down the Berlin Wall? Or the simple pastor in Timisoara, Romania that brought about the downfall of the government there. The many small chapels across England as John Wesley preached up and down the land. 

Show pictures:

Sistine Chapel at the Vatican- Italy

Cathedral in Krakow, Poland

Cathedral in Milan

Cathedral in Salisbury – a worker who loved Jesus

Cathedral in Wesel – Peter Minuit who bought Manhatten from the Indians

St. Paul’s Cathedral London – taken into the Holy of Holies

But all of these do not compare with what God gave to Moses!

Then the Tabernacle – above all the others

Read Text

The Character and nature of God is revealed

Through the blood of Jesus

The courtyard for sin, and the Holy place leading to the Holy of Holies.

46x23 meters (150 feet X 75 feet) cf Biltmore is 175,000 ft2 CFNBC 11,250 ft2

Outer Court and Inner Court

Holy Place – 10 X 5 meters 48x24

Holy of Holies – 5 X 5 meters 24ft

Worshiper could not go any further than bringing sacrifice to altar. Only priests could go farther to laver. Worth – Over 100 billion USD equivalent.

See the Revelation 21 for the New Jerusalem

Prayers of incense Revelation 5:8 and 8:3,4

Assumptions and shadows.  Solving the mystery and wanting to know all things. 

But there are issues that can develop because of this: the presence and leadership of God is replaced by dead works and dead traditions.  Where there. Is no life being infused, but the very condemnation that does not come from the Father:  ignoring him can lead to lifelessness. 

See what happens in Exodus 32.1

See what is in Cebu or in Chichicastenango. 

The tents in the wilderness were facing the tabernacle.

When we look forward to what Father intends for us both individually and collectively as a church, we can do a lot more moving forward in unity. 

“Therefore, no one is to act as your judge in regard to food and drink, or in respect to a festival or a new moon, or a Sabbath day— things which are only a shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ. Take care that no one keeps defrauding you of your prize by delighting in humility and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, and not holding firmly to the head, from whom the entire body, being supplied and held together by the joints and ligaments, grows with a growth which is from God.”

Colossians 2:16-19 “But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it has run its course, brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers and sisters. Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.”

James 1:14-17 

“For the Law, since it has only a shadow of the good things to come and not the form of those things itself, can never, by the same sacrifices which they offer continually every year, make those who approach perfect. Otherwise, would they not have ceased to be offered, because the worshipers, having once been cleansed, would no longer have had consciousness of sins? But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.”

Hebrews 10:1-4 

Introducing Jesus

Exodus 3:13-15

Long Creek Baptist Church 

Sunday, September 17, 2023

Introduction 

The need for a cultural translator- Hajo helped by explaining the cultural realities of living in Germany.

We face something similar when it comes to understanding life in the Kingdom of God.  That is the job of the Holy Spirit.

Read Text

The need to know more about who God is.  I AM speaks to his eternal being, but that says little about his attributes, his character, his objectives and goals, his ideals, desires, his nature, his personality – the definition that explores and describes who you are. The journey into Exodus does a lot to explain who Jesus is, not only what he did on the cross. The introduction to the power, reliability and work of Jesus is core, critical and explains many the other aspects of who Jesus is that are found in the Exodus.

Here are some of the things we find concerning Jesus and the nature of the Kingdom of God:

Living Water - Exodus 15:22-26 Exodus 17:2, 5-6 John 4:10, 13-14

Bread of Life - Exodus 16:1-2, 4John 6:48-51

Lawgiver - Exodus 20:1 Matthew 5:38-39

Covenant Maker - Exodus 24:5-8Luke 22:20 

Life Changer - Exodus 19:3-6 Revelation 1:5-6

Mediator - 1 Timothy 2:5 

Friend - Exodus 33:11  John 15:15 

The introduction to Jesus is what gives us both our security in his promises as well as the joy of growing in our relationship to him. 

Living Water

“Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea, and they went out into the wilderness of Shur; and they went three days in the wilderness and found no water. When they came to Marah, they could not drink the waters of Marah, because they were bitter; for that reason it was named Marah. So the people grumbled at Moses, saying, “What are we to drink?” Then he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree; and he threw it into the waters, and the waters became sweet. There He made for them a statute and regulation, and there He tested them. And He said, “If you will listen carefully to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and listen to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have put on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.””

Exodus 15:22-26 

“So the people quarreled with Moses and said, “Give us water so that we may drink!” And Moses said to them, “Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you test the Lord?” Then the Lord said to Moses, “Pass before the people and take with you some of the elders of Israel; and take in your hand your staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. Behold, I will stand before you there on the rock at Horeb; and you shall strike the rock, and water will come out of it, so that the people may drink.” And Moses did so in the sight of the elders of Israel.”

Exodus 17:2, 5-6 

“Jesus replied to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who is saying to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never be thirsty; but the water that I will give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up to eternal life.””

John 4:10, 13-14 

Bread of Life

“Then they set out from Elim, and all the congregation of the sons of Israel came to the wilderness of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after their departure from the land of Egypt. But the whole congregation of the sons of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness. Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, so that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction.”

Exodus 16:1-2, 4 

“I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down out of heaven, so that anyone may eat from it and not die. I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats from this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I will give for the life of the world also is My flesh.””

John 6:48-51 

Lawgiver

“Then God spoke all these words, saying,”

Exodus 20:1 

““You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ But I say to you, do not show opposition against an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other toward him also.” Matthew 5:38-39 

Covenant Maker

“And he sent young men of the sons of Israel, and they offered burnt offerings and sacrificed bulls as peace offerings to the Lord. Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and the other half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it as the people listened; and they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!” So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant, which the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.””

Exodus 24:5-8  

“In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.”

Luke 22:20 

Life Changer! From slaves to a Kingdom and Priests

“Then Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain and said, “This is what you are to say to the descendants of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel: ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself. Now if you obey me fully and keep my covenant, then out of all nations you will be my treasured possession. Although the whole earth is mine, you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.””

Exodus 19:3-6  

To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

Revelation 1:5-6 

Mediator

“For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and mankind, the Man Christ Jesus,” 1 Timothy 2:5 

God speaks to pharaoh and the people through Moses

The people speak to God through Moses. What they miss is the direct communication.

Friend

“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

John 15:15  

“So the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, just as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses returned to the camp, his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent.”

Exodus 33:11  

Introduction to Jesus in Genesis: Abraham and his son offered on Mt. Moriah, present day Jerusalem and the place of Solomon’s temple. Also, Joseph is the most perfect illustration of Jesus in the OT: sold by his brothers for money into slavery, falsely accused of immorality and thrown into the dungeon, left for dead, raised and exalted to be Lord of all Egypt, savior of his family even those who betrayed him. 

Read Text

Moses shows us the type of Jesus as the deliverer. 

Saved from death as a baby. Aware of his calling to be a deliverer, he tries to do so on in his own strength and fails miserably. Running away from the situation, he encounters God, and the relationship grows in an intimate way.

Here are some of the types readily visible:

His growing personal relationship with God, from the “l AM” encounter, to the regular discussions concerning pharaoh and his leaders. Growth in dependency upon God for every action, direction, etc. you have the bitter waters of Marah turning sweet when he throws the tree into the water and it becomes sweet, and you have the need for bread, and the Manna comes down from heaven: both are reflected in Jesus being the water of life, and the bread of life!

That relationship develops into a very close intimate relationship with a vision of the heavens, the tabernacle as a miniature of what John sees in the Revelation, and him telling God even what he cannot do and why! Even his death is a view towards the ascension of Jesus.  Get this, he returns at the transfiguration, which could also reflect the return of Jesus. But the greatest type of Jesus that is found in his life is that of deliverer.

Look at the issues facing him – his personal reputation.

The oppression from the Egyptians

            Burdens treated like slaves

            Based on Fear and a need for Cheap labor

            Mean, torture, evil – wanting to kill babies, inflicting pain, hurts, lies, deception, betrayal.

            Idolatry, the demonic, sinful, blasphemous 

The objections of the Hebrew people

            Mistrust, seen as a coward, ran instead of helping.

            How do we know he speaks for God? Lack of faith, hopelessness, helplessness. Depression.

            Really, you want us to be happy when everything is getting worse?

The objections from Moses: unqualified, no influence, no authority

How do you get 600 000 men plus women and children to trust you enough to lead you out of your situation?

How do you overcome the obstinance of pharaoh? 

How will we live if we go? Not in shape to lead a war.

The answer lies in God’s covenant, promises, and his word.

The need for deliverance in a society like that is real for everyone involved. The first one to be delivered is Moses – he needed to learn to trust God.

The warnings he brought were to both solidify his role as the called one.

His initiates the greatest deliverance from oppression and slavery to that date in history. It becomes something that will be remembered forever in Christian and Jewish families because of the Passover.

This is a type of Jesus who does a quick work when we put our trust in him and he passes over our lives, never to experience death. See John 8:51,52: “The Jews answered him, “Aren’t we right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” “I am not possessed by a demon,” said Jesus, “but I honor my Father and you dishonor me. I am not seeking glory for myself; but there is one who seeks it, and he is the judge. Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.””

the deliverance of Jesus is greater!

It is not just for time, but eternity!

His deliverance is from torment, personal, internal, oppressive, imposed, and evil torment. 

The Passover lamb in the story is Jesus! He is the One who meets the enemies within and without, whose covenant he keeps and whose promises are true, whose love endures forever.

Where is the evil one here? Turn to Jesus and be delivered. Be set free from all that is in the world: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life! 

At the end of Acts, Paul continues to show that Jesus is the Messiah from Moses and the prophets.  It is the same that Jesus does from the end of Luke while on his way to Emmaus. Let’s look at some of those Scriptures over the coming weeks. Today I would like to look at some prophecies in the Psalms: and why they are so important and valuable to all of us.  As I was reading Reflections on the Psalms by CS Lewis, I was quite taken by his insights into the topic of Praise. 

Why praise? Why is it so important? – Let’s look at it from a non-Christian perspective:

Many have said to me, why would I want to go to heaven? Sitting around and playing harps all day.

How we view people who always want to be admired, constantly be assured of their virtue, or intelligence, how good they are at what they do?  We look down at the clouds that meet the demands of dictators and gratify their egos. So, what do we think of a god who demands praise from his followers?

How are we to equate that with being humble of heart? 50:14,15

Or it appears as though the Psalmists try and negotiate with God: if you do this for me, then I will do this for you. 54:1,6

Or the blackmail technique: If you don’t defeat my enemies, then I will go down to Sheol, and who will praise you then? 30:9

Or why does God demand we praise him? Or encourage others to motivate us to praise him? Does he really need it? Is he like humans, wanting to to be number 1 and all the world to know it? 119

In all of these negative approaches to Scripture, we fail to see the value and the importance of biblical praise. Let me begin with a couple of my experiences.  When the kids were little, Jan had to stay at home a lot. I traveled to May wonderful and exotic countries. The truth is, I only wanted to be there long enough to finish the work I came to do. I had no interest in sightseeing. Why, because Jan wasn’t there to enjoy it with me.  Now, when we are just the two of us, I have very rarely traveled without her, and when we go places, we love to try new foods, see new things, examine the similarities and differences in culture and appreciate it together.  So our trip to New Zealand, or Manu other places lives on in our hearts, not because of the pictures, but because of our identification and expression of our admiration.

This makes praising God different from seeing him as a benevolent dictator who wants to rob us of life and joy.

Why does God demand our worship? As the all-sufficient one, why does he demand we go to church and not forsake the assembling of ourselves together? Because in the corporate worship he communicates his presence to mere mortals. It is not for his sake, but for our sake that praise is most needed. God is not so vain that he needs our complements, but it is us who need to get to know him, appreciate him, and understand his magnificent ways. When we praise, and examine his laws, his character, his virtues, his will, his thoughts, his desires, our hearts are flooded with his wisdom, his understanding, his joy, and we become partakes with him in these divine experiences.

Often we only look at praise as being a complement, approval, or giving honor where it is due.  But look around us. Look at where praise happens: who do you praise? Your lover, your walks in the countryside, a good book, your favorite football club, a friend, your home, a picture, our lives overflow with enjoyment when we praise.  When we criticize, it falls flat and into arguments. Praise is what brings about encouragement and the best in all of us. It really begins when we can praise God.

That is why in the Psalms we have so many clear indications of God’s great plans and purposes. Hidden in dual meanings of the text, but which point directly to Jesus and his work and his joy and his salvation.

It starts in Psalm 1 with a view of the glory of heaven – trees with fruit every month revelation 22:2

“On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:2

Compare with this: “Blessed is the person who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, And on His Law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalms 1:1-3

Then we see Jesus as the good shepherd in Psalm 23 and in John 10:11

In Psalm 22 we see the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my help are the words of my groaning. All who see me deride me; They sneer, they shake their heads, saying, “Turn him over to the Lord; let Him save him; Let Him rescue him, because He delights in him.” I am poured out like water, And all my bones are out of joint; My heart is like wax; It is melted within me. My strength is dried up like a piece of pottery, And my tongue clings to my jaws; And You lay me in the dust of death. For dogs have surrounded me; A band of evildoers has encompassed me; They pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones. They look, they stare at me; They divide my garments among them, And they cast lots for my clothing. ¶I will proclaim Your name to my brothers; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You. All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, And all the families of the nations will worship before You. For the kingdom is the Lord’s And He rules over the nations.” Psalms 22:1, 7-8, 14-18, 22, 27-28 - compare with Jesus in Luke 23:33-48 Bible

In Psalm 24 we see the triumph of Jesus over sin, death and the devil for all time, and his receiving the crown of glory with all authority in heaven and earth for the salvation of all who will call upon him. 

“Lift up your heads, you gates, And be lifted up, you ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Lift up your heads, you gates, And lift them up, you ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of armies, He is the King of glory.”

Psalms 24:7, 9-10 see Phil 2:9-11 and Eph 1:20-23

“For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:9-11 NASB2020

“which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and made Him head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.” Ephesians 1:20-23

In Psalm 2 we see him as the conquering  king over all:  “Why are the nations restless And the peoples plotting in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers conspire together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ¶He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. “I will announce the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have fathered You. ‘Ask it of Me, and I will certainly give the nations as Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth as Your possession.” Psalms 2:1-2, 4, 7-8 and see Matt 28:18-20

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”” Matthew 28:18-20 

When that becomes clear to us, that God wants this known among all peoples everywhere, that his love surpasses all other loves, then the door that leads us into that courtyard is the door of praise. Our lives explode with the joy of worship and all finds its place of worth and value within the presence of the Lord. As we begin to live in praise, we start to praise one another, it changes our attitudes, it builds us all up, we become less critical of one another. It brings healing to our souls, our bodies, our approach to life.

We praise what we value! And we want others to enjoy it with us. We have to tell others about it, and we want to tell those who will appreciate it the most! The reason we do that with others is that praise with others completes the enjoyment!  Our delight is something is incomplete until it is expressed! The worthier the object of our praise, the more intense our delight will be!  As imperfect our attempts of worship are, we do glimpse it at times when God breaks through into our lives and the flow of praise erupts, as we join even for a brief moment the wonder of heaven and glimpse a bit of the love God has for us. What we begin to experience in our own prayer closets, let us bring in joy as we worship him together. Let us consummate our enjoyment of Jesus and the Father by Tell it to him, and to each other!