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Cell Notes on the New Exodus 2
[I attach my preach notes below]
Word:
Read together Hebrews 12.
Consider the following from this chapter and the book as a whole:
1. Who is the writer writing to and why?
2. What is being emphasized in this chapter?
3. Why is the NT writer using the example of the Israelites in Exodus chapter 19?
I stated on Sunday that Hebrews 12 has at least 2 Practical and Applicable Messages for us as Christians when we encounter opposition, hard times and a lack of immediate fruit/inheritance/rewards/recognition:
A. Don’t stop listening to God
B. Lay hold of our hope
How are these two messages communicated in Hebrews 12?
How have we in the past couple of weeks faced a lack of rewards or of fruit, or even opposition and been tempted to give up?
What are we going to do over the next couple of weeks to take hold of the lesson from Hebrews 12?
Pray for each other...
Preach on Mount Sinai/Mount Zion
New Exodus series - looking at NT references to the Exodus and their relevance for Christians
Story of the Exodus - story of captivity, of mercy and deliverance by a powerful and merciful God, of a covenant between God and His people, and of a journey towards inheritance
Study - the Word is food for our soul!!
[Why should we read the Old Testament?
OT makes us wise regarding our salvation 2 Tim 3:14
Jewish background to our faith - well-known information for Jewish Christians
Emphasis of the relevance of the OT as the shadow of Jesus, or pointing towards Jesus
What do we learn about God? - same God yesterday, today and forever]
Today - looking at the NT reference in Hebrews 12 to the OT Exodus
Unpack the NT passage in the light of the OT references
Message for anyone who’s going through a hard time, tempted to give up!
Message for those who have had their faith dented or have tried so hard and now want to give up, for those who are encountering hardships as a Christian
Heb. 12:18 ¶ You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm; Heb. 12:19 to a trumpet blast or to such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them,
Heb. 12:20 because they could not bear what was commanded: “If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned.” Heb. 12:21 The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, “I am trembling with fear.” Heb. 12:22 ¶ But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, Heb. 12:23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
Heb. 12:24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Heb. 12:25 ¶ See to it that you do not refuse him who speaks. If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we, if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven?
Heb. 12:26 At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
Heb. 12:27 The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken — that is, created things — so that what cannot be shaken may remain.
Heb. 12:28 ¶ Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe,
Heb. 12:29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” [NIV]
Brief introduction to Hebrews:
Letter written to a church (probably Rome or Jerusalem)
Background = Jews converted to Christianity - delay in Christ’s return and opposition, tempted to return to Judaism
Writer points out overwhelming superiority of Jesus Christ to all experienced under the law
Chapter 12
v1,2 run the race looking unto Jesus
v3-11 God disciplines those He loves
2 mountains contrasted: Mount Sinai, Mount Zion
(what is their significance and what is the message communicated to the church by the writer of Hebrews?)
Anyone know anything about either of these mountains??
[map]
Ex. 19:1 ¶ In the third month after the Israelites left Egypt—on the very day—they came to the Desert of Sinai.
Ex. 19:2 After they set out from Rephidim, they entered the Desert of Sinai, and Israel camped there in the desert in front of the mountain.
Ex. 19:3 ¶ 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 house of Jacob and what you are to tell the people of Israel:
Ex. 19:4 ‘You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagles’ wings and brought you to myself.
Ex. 19:5 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,
Ex. 19:6 you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words you are to speak to the Israelites.” [NIV]
v4-6 - chosen by God
obey God and keep His covenant (solemn promise, one-way agreement) - important in God’s eyes
treasured possession
kingdom of priests and a holy nation
much of the rest of the chapter - Israelites purify themselves and stay away from the mountain because God is going to come down
2 Practical and Applicable Messages for us as Christians when we encounter opposition, hard times and a lack of immediate fruit/inheritance/rewards/recognition:
McDonalds - immediate fruit and recognition
1. Don’t decline to hear God’s voice anymore!
Hebrews outlines 5 Dangers for the Disciples in the Church
[are you aware there are dangers? there is opposition? there is an opponent?]
(made with reference to the sins and failings of Old Testament Israel):
A. Drifting - 2:1-4 (not being anchored on God’s words)
B. Departing 3:12-14 (falling away, apostasy)
C. Dulling 5:11-6:12 (deadening, but God’s word is sharper than a double-edged sword)
D. Despising 10:26-31 (willfull sin having received the knowledge of the truth)
E. Declining 12:15-29 (disregarding, neglecting to listen to God)
Ch.12 Don’t decline to hear - why?
NB, to a Jewish audience, at Mount Sinai:
A. For sinful people, the words of God were terrifying and other than so they didn’t want to hear them any more (v19) ‘ those who heard it begged that no further word be spoken to them’
B. At Mount Sinai, God made a covenant with Israel but they hardened their hearts and broke covenant and stayed in the desert in the place outside of the promised land.
In the place of frustration, we can often harden our heart
Heb. 3:15 As has just been said: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.”
Frustrated at the lack of perceived success doing what we felt God asked us to do, we start doing what we think is best in the circumstances, we plough our own furrow and don’t want to listen to God’s Spirit prompting us to turn round
(don’t carry on with your sinful life, pleasing yourself, assuming what you think is best, whilst declining to hear the voice of God assuring you of your heavenly calling)
moving house - Highbury Terrace or Dover Court council flat?
me and internet football updates
2. Hope and Endurance and resulting discipline
(hope and endurance occurs 4 times in chapter 12, discipline 8 times)
Faith, hope and love in the book of Hebrews:
6:10-20 - all three
Heb. 6:10 God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.
10:19-25 - all three
Heb. 10:22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.
Heb. 10:23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Heb. 10:24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.
ch. 11 faith
ch. 12 hope
ch.13 love
let us
1. Draw near by faith
2. Hold fast our HOPE
3. Stimulate LOVE
Why hope?
A. because God is faithful to His covenant - Jesus is the mediator, our High Priest
ch.8 Covenant is a Sovereign Arrangement or Marriage Agreement now locked up in the strongbox (Ark) of the bank (Sanctuary) to which we, and through which we have access all the time now. It is signed in blood.
v18-21 because now you haven’t come to the old covenant that speaks of sinful man’s separation from a holy God (heard only in words from a distance) and of sin or disobedience resulting in death and of fear and trembling at an awesome God
B. Because we’ve arrived at our eternal destination!
BUT v 21-24 you have come now to your final, heavenly destination, to all the resource of heaven (angels v22), to a place of belonging as the people of God
Mount Sinai was not the destination but a stage on the journey to Mount Zion, to Jerusalem, to the Promised Land, to the inheritance!
[anyone got half way there and thought that’s enough??
Olympics - halfway + training and God disciplines those He loves]
C. Because God is crowned in glory and His kingdom is unshakeable
‘we have come to a crowd of angels’ v23
‘we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken’ v28
Hope leads us to be disciplined - next chapter - acts of love
Response -
those who’ve stopped listening to God
those who’ve run out of hope
God wants to reveal His glory! (Exodus 33)
discipline and reverence |
Robin Plummer, 19/08/2008 |
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