Baptism and Filling with the Holy Spirit (Acts 2)

 Before John Piper preaches he often prays that God would give him prophetic insights that would drive the truth home for his listeners.  On one occasion this happened in a dramatic way.

John was preaching on small groups and was reminding the congregation of the fact that you can set up a small group anywhere.  He encouraged people to think about trying investigative Bible studies with their non-Christian friends.  Then, off script, he gave an illustration.  'You might even work on the 34th floor of the IDS tower.  Maybe you should call your people together and have a small group meeting.'

After the service a woman approached him and asked, 'why did you say that?'
It turns out that she worked on the 34th story of the IDS building and had been praying about starting a small group.

In my diary a number of months ago, I wrote in capital letters, ‘Pentecost’.  In think that Pentecost is one of the dates in the church calendar that we tend to ignore.  It may be that we see some of the things that are done in the name of the Holy Spirit and they seem a bit chaotic.  Maybe we know of the divisions that have occurred in churches over certain gifts of the Spirit.  While we do not want to act with disorder, churches that are cautious like ours can be in danger of quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19).

We are in a series on Acts and I want to look at what Luke’s two books—Luke’s gospel and Acts say about the person of the Holy Spirit.  As I studied this I realised how important this is for us as we seek to church plant over the next couple of years.  In Acts one of the primary roles of the Holy Spirit is to equip the church for mission.

1.     1.  The Holy Spirit prepares us for mission

Back near the beginning of Luke’s gospel John the Baptist is baptising and he declares that while he was baptising with water there would come after him one who baptises with ‘the Holy Spirit and fire’ (3:15-17).

Later in Luke, after Jesus speaks of asking and receiving he teaches, ‘if you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask!’ (Luke 11:13).  We are to desire the Holy Spirit.

Jesus teaches the disciples that when they are under pressure the Holy Spirit will tell them what to say.  The person of the Holy Spirit is essential to the mission of the church (Luke 12:12).

Then, at the beginning of Acts, the risen Jesus tells the small group of Christians, ‘but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth’ (Acts 1:8).  Again, we see that the empowerment of the Holy Spirit is central to their mission.  Just notice how Peter, who denied Jesus, speaks courageously after Pentecost.

2.      2. Pentecost was a unique moment in God’s plan

On the day of Pentecost, a feast that took place fifty days after the Passover, there were Jews from all over the world gathered in Jerusalem.  The one hundred and twenty or so believers were gathered in one place.  ‘Suddenly a sound like the lowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.  They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.  All of them began to speak in tongues as the Spirit enabled them’ (Acts 2:2-4).

It is interesting that these tongues are slightly different from those that Paul writes about in Corinthians.  Those tongues in Corinthians needed someone with the gift of interpretation to understand what was being said—which would seem to suggest that they were not human languages.  Here at Pentecost people hear the Christians speaking in recognisable human languages.  It should be noted too that what is happening here seems to be a reversal of the curse after the tower of Babel.  After babel people were divided by languages.  Now they are being united.

After Peter speaks to the gathered crowd he tells them to ‘repent and be baptised, every one of you, in the name of Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.  And you will receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38).  Receiving the Spirit seems to be tied with becoming a Christian and there is no mention of the large group of new Christian speaking in other languages.

My understanding is that the day of Pentecost was a unique moment in the history of God’s plan, and that since then we receive the Holy Spirit when we become a Christian.  In other words, I am not looking for a separate event of being baptised in the Holy Spirit after you become a Christian.  I think that this fits with the fact that the New Testament letters don’t go on urging the Christians to seek a second experience of ‘baptism in the Holy Spirit.’  In fact, Paul writes to the Corinthians explaining that, ‘we are all baptised with one Spirit to form one body’ (1 Cor. 12:13a).

Some people teach that not only is baptism in the Holy Spirit is a secondary experience but that it is authenticated by the gift of tongues.  However, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost was accompanied by tongues of fire and tongues that were actual languages.  Also, Paul clearly teaches the Corinthians that the gift of tongues, is not meant for all Christians.  In pointing out that different Christians receive different gifts that while to one person one gift may be given ‘to another the speaking of different kinds of tongues’ (1 Cor. 12:10).  Similarly, he asks, ‘do all speak in tongues?’  It is a rhetorical question, the answer to which is clearly ‘No!’ (1 Cor. 12:30).

But what about those occasions in Acts where being baptised in the Holy Spirit does happen as a second experience after conversion?  In Acts 8 we have what we might call ‘the Samaritan Pentecost’.  There Philip is speaking in Samaria, but the beliers do not receive the Holy Spirit until Peter and John come from Jerusalem and lay hands on them.  It seems that God was delaying the Spirit on this occasion for the sake of unity.  These were Samaritans—hated by the Jews.  This unusual event demonstrates that Samaritans will be accepted on the same basis as Jews.  Something similar happens in chapters ten and eleven, to show that gentile believers as to be accepted wholly into the church.  Chapter nineteen, with Paul in Ephesus, deals with a highly unusual people who had become believers through John the Baptist’s ministry and had not even heard of the person of the Holy Spirit.

 3.  But we must keep on seeking to be filled with the Spirit.

On the day of Pentecost, when Peter gets up to explain what was going on with people speaking in various languages, he begins by saying, ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people’ (Acts 2:17).  He is quoting the book of Joel.  The last days are the period of time from the resurrection of Jesus until the return of Jesus.  That means we are in the last days now. 

What can we expect during these last days?  ‘Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, you old men will dream dreams, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days and they will prophecy’ (Acts 2:17-18).

In First Corinthians, Paul explains that prophecy will cease and tongues will be stilled when the completeness comes … when we see face to face … when we are fully known (1 Cor. 13:8-12).  I think this completeness refers to Jesus’ return.  So, we can expect to see such things now.

While the baptism of the Holy Spirit might refer to becoming a Christian, Paul told the Ephesians to keep on being filled with the Spirit (Eph. 5:18).  In that case that filling is associated with how we speak to each other.  Stephen was a man full of the Holy Spirit and faith—we should aim to be people who demonstrate the Spirit’s power over us (Acts 6:5).  That great encourager, Barnabas, was also referred to as being full of the Spirt and faith (11:24).

Remember too that the Holy Spirit in Acts is associated with power for mission.  When Peter and John told the church of the threats that had been made against them they all cried out to God in prayer and the Holy Spirit filled them, enabling the to speak the Word of God with courage (Acts 4:31).

Conclusions:

While we all might know of situations in charismatic churches where there was an element of craziness, Martyn Lloyd-Jones says that for most conservative church es is that we respond by quenching the Holy Spirit (1 Thess. 5:19).  In the church at Corinth there was the misuse of the gift of tongues.  There were those who wanted to stop this misuse by forbidding tongue-speaking (1 Cor. 14:39).  In fact, Paul spoke of using the gifts with a sense of order and, most importantly, with an attitude of love.  One challenge I feel as we read about how are gatherings are to be guided by the Spirit is where Paul writes that, ‘when you come together, each of you has a hymn, a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation’ (1 Cor. 14:28).  I think we need to find time to allow people share what God has been putting on their hearts.

I have said that in Acts the Holy Spirit is connected with mission.  This is so important as we think about church planting.  It was during a time of worship and fasting that the Holy Spirit told the leaders to put aside Paul and Barnabas for the work that He had called them to (Acts 13:1-2).  Luke says that when Paul and his team tried to enter Bithynia, the Spirit of Jesus would not let them (Acts 16:7).  We want the Holy Spirit to close some doors so that we can be guided to where He wants us to go.  Paul also spoke about being compelled by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem (Acts 20:22).  We want to use common sense when it comes to the mission of the church, but we must not only depend on common sense.  We need to pray, and pray together.

In 'God's Love Compels Us', Mack Stiles tells the story of Nastaran:

Nastaran is a good friend and colleague in ministry.  She's an Iranian who grew up in Tehran.  At seventeen, she was a good Muslim girl: she had never seen a Bible, never sung a hymn, and never been inside a church.  But one day, as she was taking a shower, she heard a voice say, "I am going to wash away your sin."

She didn't know who that was, so she went to the mosque and asked her Iman about the voice.  Her Iman said, "that was Jesus, he is the only prophet who talks that way.  Nastaran said, "Thank you,", and went home.  Not long after this, a woman came to Nastaran with the message of the gospel.  Nastaran was ready to hear, and received it with joy.  So started an amazing journey of faith and ministry, along with her husband, Yuna.'   

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance and filling to show us those we are called to reach and to give us the courage to speak to them with clarity and courage.    

Devoted to … the fellowship (Acts 2:42)

 

Devoted to … the fellowship (Acts 2:42)

Core statement: ‘God is glorified when a diverse people love each other well in Christ’.

Have you ever thought to yourself ‘what is the purpose of the church’?  I think that the purpose of the church is that we would display the beauty of Jesus.  This is done as diverse people love each other well in Christ.

There are many things that can divide us.  We could argue over political views and sports.  We have different tastes and styles.  But when diverse people who look different or are from different backgrounds love each other well in Christ then the world sees something of the beauty of Jesus in our lives.

In our church at Limerick Baptist we have people from over twenty nationalities.  In the last dozen years or so we have had people from over forty countries.  Then remember that within those countries are people from different tribal groups.  We also want to try and develop a church that appeals to all age groups and economic backgrounds.  Such diversity shows that God is faithful.

You see all the way back in Genesis (12:1-3) God made a promise to a man called Abram telling him that through his line all the nations of the world would be blessed.  Jesus was his descendent and sent His followers to preach the good news to all nations.  One day we will be gathered around His throne with people from every nationalist (Rev. 7:9).  Look around your church and see people who are from a different background than yours and that evidence that God is faithful to these promises.  Aim at, and celebrate, ethnic diversity.

One of the things that God put on my heart was the Biblical idea of bearing with each other (Col. 3:13).  Love bears all things (1 Cor. 13:7).  The fact of the matter is that bearing with each other takes effort.  I think that the opposite of bearing with one another in love is not just out-and-out hostility but simply keeping other people at a distance.  Note that ‘they devoted themselves’ to the fellowship.  It means to steadfastly continue.  It takes effort to devote yourself to people with a different sense of humour and different opinions.

1.       If we can learn to naturally about our faith we will see how much we have in common

Our reading takes place after the day of Pentecost.  That was a feast that took place fifty days after the Passover.  Jerusalem was full of people from all over the world.  There were Jews from many countries, and among them people who had become Jews from non-Jewish backgrounds.  In other words, these people were different from each other.  Then Peter preaches and three thousand are added to the church.  The church began in diversity.  Indeed, the book of Acts will deal with how Gentiles (non-Jews) become full members of the church.  Acts shows us diverse people loving to love each other well because of their love for Jesus.  Such a church displays the beauty of Jesus.

But you might think that given my cultural background and their cultural background, I don’t have much in common with that person in my church.  That is not true!  If you share a love for Jesus then you have almost everything in common with them.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones was a preacher in London in the second half of the last century.  London was full of diverse people and the church he pastored church attracted many visitors.  He used to go to his study after the service and invite anyone to join him there who wanted to talk about spiritual concerns.  He later observed, ‘when they came in, I knew them and they knew me.’  It was not that they had ever met before, but they knew that they were of the family of Christ.

Learn to talk naturally about your faith and you will see how much you have in common with other Christians.

2.        Love grows as we embrace vulnerability

Back to Genesis.  In the garden of Eden everything was good, except that it was not good for man to be alone (Gen. 2:18).  God in His kindness puts the lonely in families (Ps. 68:6).  Jesus identifies His people as brothers and sisters and mothers (Matt. 12:49).  You might not get on with your biological family and you might be single all your life, but God has given us each other to be family.  We need to do such family well.  I heard a church growth person say that church is not family, but that is not true, our brothers and sisters in Christ are our closest family.

Notice how this church in Acts loved meeting with each other.  They met in the temple and in each other’s homes.  Tim Keller suggests that they enjoyed being with each other so much that having to separate and go about the other routines of life were a bit of a pain for them.

There is a key to such community.  If we are going to have to be vulnerable.

I have this theory.  In Ireland, when we drive our cars, and we come to a blockage in the road where only one car can go, we would rather let the other person go rather than have them give way for us.  We like to be the person doing the favour.  I think the same thing can happen in our prayer life.  We would rather be the strong person who prayers for others than be the broken person that needs prayer.  But we all have vulnerabilities.  Don’t expect church to grow in depth if you are never willing to be weak!

You are not the only person in this church who struggles with anxiety or depression.  You are not the only person in this church who is worried about wayward children.  You are not the only person in this church who feels defeated by a besetting sin.  You are not the only person in this church who has health issues.  We all have burdens and fellowship will grow when we realise that we need each other. 

I have said to our prayer team, ‘if you are not willing to be on the receiving end of prayer then you are not ready to offer prayers to others.’  Jesus knew what it was to be weak.  He did not hide His tears.

3.       Fellowship is focused of Jesus

‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching’.  Those who had been with Jesus teach what was taught to them.  Jesus gave a gospel of love for sinful people.

‘They devoted themselves to the braking of bread’.  What was that about?  It was about Jesus.  They constantly remembered that Jesus’ body was broken on the cross so that we could be made whole again.

Jesus was the centre of their fellowship.  If you don’t know Him yet He invites you to experience His life transforming forgiveness.  He promises never to turn away who comes to Him (John 6:37).  No one is so together that they don’t need Him.  No one is so broken and messed up that He won’t have them. 

Conclusion

I want to finish with two quotes.

‘You can’t praise Jesus’ dying for you if you are indifferent towards His people.  You are not walking close to people if you keep His people at arm’s length.

‘If no one offends you, how will you show them grace?’  (Miquais Melo).

The church’s calling is to display the beauty of Jesus.  This is done when a diverse people love each other out of love for Him.

Devoted … apostles’ teaching (Acts 2:42)

Captain Siva was a young man working as a pitot for Malaysian Airlines.  He was from a Hindu background.  While in a hotel in east Malaysia he had an urge to read the Gideon Bible in his room.  He began at Genesis and encountered a God who is our creator and who is personal.  He had never thought of God in personal terms before.

Over the next months he came across other Bibles and kept reading.  One text that stood out to him was when God says in Isaiah that it is abomination to worship idols.  As a Hindu he had worshipped many idols.

Then in the early hours of August 17^th 1980, as his wife was giving birth to their daughter Rachel, he prayed.  ‘Here I am in the middle of the night reading your word.  Are you speaking to me?’  He heard no voice but, in his heart, he knew God was saying to him, ‘I am your Father.’

As his daughter came into the world Siva declared, ‘as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.’  He has been living for God ever since.

When we read the book of Acts we see that the word of God has a power all of its own.  ‘So, the word of God spread’ (Acts 6:7).  ‘The Word continued to spread and flourish’ (Acts 12:24).  ‘The word spread through the whole region’ (Acts 13:49).  ‘In this way the Word of God spread widely and grew in power’ (Acts 19:20).  One of the key themes of this book is that the word of God spreads with an unstoppable force.

In the sixteenth-century Martin Luther rediscovered the simple gospel of grace as he turned back to the word of God.  That discovery changed the face of Europe.   His sidekick was called Philip Melanchthon.  When Luther was asked how they made such an impact, he replied, ‘myself and Philip drank our beer, the word did the rest.’ 

The word is the foundation of the church

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching.

We can see an example of the apostles’ teaching earlier in this chapter.  Peter got up and explained to a Jewish crowd that the scriptures pointed to Jesus.  He centred his words on the cross and the resurrection.  Then there was a response.

Paul would later be added to that unique group of first-century apostles.  He would sum up all that he taught by declaring, ‘we preach Christ crucified’ (1 Cor. 1:23).

Remember that this is Luke’s second book.  In his first, the gospel of Luke, the risen Jesus opens His followers’ eyes to see that all of the Bible points to Him, and in particular to the fact that He would die and rise from the dead (Luke 24:27 and 47).

In Paul’s letter to the Ephesians he declares that the church is God’s household built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ himself as the chief cornerstone (Eph. 2:20).  Take away Christ crucified and you are undermining the very foundation of the church.  Everything is likely to collapse!

I remember reading about the Methodist church in Cuba.  While the Methodist church in north America and Great Britain are rapidly contracting, it is flourishing.  Reading that article, I concluded that churches which are truly healthy are those with a genuine openness to the person and work of the Holy Spirit and a glad dependence on the Word that He inspired.

The word is the food that sustains us 

Speaking to the elders at Ephesus the apostle Paul committed them ‘to the word of grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among the sanctified’ (Acts 20:32).  As we saturate ourselves in the word we will change and our fellowship will change.

I love what Paul said to the church at Thessalonica.  He spoke of the word which is at work in those who believe (1 Thess. 2:13).  The apostle Peter also spoke about the health that comes through God’s word.  ‘Like new born babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you might grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good’ (1 Peter 2:2-3).  The writer to the Hebrews wrote that ‘the word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart’ (Heb. 4:12).  It has often been said, ‘don’t just read the word, let the word read you.’  We mature in Christ as the Bible takes more of a hold on our minds.

The word is the focus of our mission

While it was the apostles who were uniquely given the message of Jesus that we record in our New Testament, it was not only the apostles who used in spreading the word.  That is a task for all of us.

In Acts 8, after Stephen has been martyred, all but the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.  What did these ordinary Christians do?  ‘Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went’ (Acts 8:8).  Our job is to preach the word in our homes, our workplaces, our neighbourhoods and even on our holidays.  We all feel intimidated about that task, but remember what the Christians did when they were told that they might be persecuted if they spoke about Jesus.  They prayed, then they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God with courage (Acts 4:31).

5 Challenges

1.       Sit under the word.  Martin Luther wrote to one of his opponents saying, ‘the difference between you and me is that you stand above God’s word and judge it, whereas I sit underneath God’s word and let it judge me.

We are far more shaped by our culture than we realise.  Indeed, our culture’s opinions change all the time.  There are things that our culture takes as normal that fifty years ago would never have been accepted.  There are things that our culture will believe in fifty years that would seem strange in our day.  God’s word is a standard that is eternal and unchanging.

Don’t be surprised when the Bible differs with what we would like to believe.  Don’t be ashamed to hold to truths that are unpopular.  Ask God to help us see things the way He sees them.

    Don’t just be sound and loveless.  When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth he addressed the issue of eating meat sacrificed to idols.  There was a right and wrong in this issue.  Yet those who were right were looking down on those who were wrong.  Those who knew they had the freedom to eat such meet were judging those whose consciences were too sensitive.  So, he said that while knowledge puffs up love builds up (1 Cor. 8:1).  It is possible to have better theology than someone, but be walking further than God from them.  It can be easy to fall into the trap of wanting to argue about every secondary issue in the Bible while not addressing great failings in your relationships. 

3.       Get a balanced diet.  I am going to suggest that when preachers are sharing their text with the person organising the service they chose both an Old Testament and a New Testament reading.  When you read the Bible be confident to simply read the text as it is—it is clear enough to read without devotional aids.  However, at times, dig deeper.  Get a good commentary and see what can be learned by experts who know the original languages and who have a greater understanding of how the text fits into the Bible’s big picture.  Read on your own and read with other people—I love to hear of people reading books together, add into that time to read some of the bible together too.

4.       Read dependently.  One of the things that gives us assurance that we really are Christians is that we see Jesus in the Bible and we are willing to let the Bible leads us.  The truth is spiritually discerned (1 Cor. 2:14).  You can not its facts without the Holy Spirit (James 2:19), but it is only the Holy Spirit who makes us live this way.  Pray before you read the Bible that your eyes and ears will be open.  Be open to the fact that the Holy Spirit will often underline verses to you and bring back biblical ideas to you mind (John 14:26).  

5.       Learn a gospel definition and pray for the opportunity to share it.  The whole of the apostles’ teaching can be summarised with, ‘I preach Christ crucified’.  How would you explain what Christ-crucified means in five sentences?  Figure that out and then pray that you will get opportunities to tell people what you believe.  

‘These are the ones I look on with favour; those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at my word’ (Is. 66:2).

 ‘The calling of Limerick Baptist Church is to display the beauty of Jesus as a diverse people love each other well in Christ, seek to become a house of prayer for the nations, building upon the foundations of God’s word as they constantly recall the death and resurrection of Christ.’

Devoted to ... the prayers (Acts 2:42)

The tenth mark of a healthy church

Myself, John and Edwin had a marvellous time in Cork a couple of months ago when we went to hear a pastor called Mark Dever.  Mark is the pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, in Washington D. C..

Mark is one of these larger-than-life figures who is incredibly knowledgeable and brilliantly gifted.  He is also a man with very strong in his opinions.  We loved Mark and learned a lot.

Mark wrote a book entitled, ‘Nine Marks of a Healthy Church.’  Which includes an emphasis on things like expositional teaching, a biblical understanding of conversion and biblical church discipline. 

I heard Mark a couple of weeks later at the Irish Baptist Pastors’ Conference.  Again, he was excellent.

At Irish Pastors’ Conference I was browsing the bookstall when I heard one guy ask Mark a probing question.  ‘What would you say to those who criticise the nine marks book for not including prayer as one of the marks of a healthy church?’  I suspect I saw a little irritation on Mark’s face, who responded that prayer lay behind each of the nine marks.

I was tempted to call this sermon ‘The Tenth Mark of a Healthy Church.’

A house of prayer for the nations

We are looking at the church in Acts to help us think of our vision for Limerick Baptist Church.  Last time I said that the goal of our church should be to display the beauty of Jesus.  This, I said, was most effectively done when a diverse group of people love each other well in Christ.  ‘They devoted themselves to the fellowship’ (Acts 2:42). 

Now we see that they also devoted themselves to ‘the prayers.’ 

I want us to fulfil our calling to be a house of prayer for the nations (Is. 56:7, Jer. 7:11, Mk. 11:17, Mt. 21:13).  This ‘house’ is no longer a building, like the temple in the Old Testament, but a people, a household, a family.  ‘You also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ’ (1 Pt. 2:5). 

Prayer is to be central to who we are as a church.

They devoted themselves to … the prayers

I just want to make a few comments on our reading from Acts before presenting five challenges.

‘They’ devoted themselves to the prayers.  They prayed together.  When Jesus taught the disciples to pray He began ‘our’ Father.  Look at the beautiful picture of Paul praying while under house arrest with those in Rome.  He writes to the Colossian Christians saying ‘since the day we heard about you we have not stopped praying for you’ (Col. 1:9).  Imagine those men huddled together praying for Christians in Colossae.  Paul and his helpers prayed together.  We don’t have a prayer life if we never pray on our own.  We don’t have a complete prayer life if we don’t pray regularly with others.

They ‘devoted’ themselves to the prayers.  As Eoin pointed out when he led a couple of weeks ago, being ‘devoted’ means to ‘steadfastly continue.’  Don’t lose heart.  Prayer can be a struggle.  We are living in a world filled with distractions and our attention spans are shrinking.  But our church will sparkle as we learn to pray well.

They devoted themselves to ‘the’ prayers.  Perhaps they observed the Jewish pattern of praying morning, noon and evening.  They set aside times to pray together.  They may have incorporated the Lord’s prayer, which by the second century was prescribed for use three times a day.  We need to have set aside prayer times, not only as a church, but as individuals.

Prayer is the lifeblood of the church

Acts is full of prayer.  ‘They joined together constantly in prayer’ as they waited for Pentecost (1:14).  They prayed before making decisions, like choosing the replacement of Judas (1:24).  They prayed when they were under pressure, and the Holy Spirit filled them so that they could speak the word of God with courage (4:31).  Deacons were appointed so that the apostles could devote themselves to the word and prayer (6:4).  They prayed over the deacons they appointed (6:6).  It was during a time of worshipping and fasting when the Holy Spirit guided their multi-ethnic leaders to set aside Paul and Barnabas for a missionary journey (13:1-2).  Prayer needs to be the lifeblood of our church. 

Prayer and the gospel

Let me briefly outline the gospel in terms of prayer.  Humankind was created for intimacy with God—to walk and talk with Him in a garden.  But we turned our backs on Him and wanted to be our own gods.  Therefore, the conversation became strained.  By nature we are now enemies of God.  Our hearts are naturally resistant to His love.  While many people pray, they tend to pray to a vague deity who simply exists to meet their selfish desires.

Jesus stepped into our world as a praying man.  He depended on His Father.  He taught us how to pray.  Yet as He died for our guilt it was as if His prayer was not answered.  ‘My God, my God why do you forsake me?’  God is under no obligation to listen to people who do not follow Him.  Yet as followers of Jesus we are invited to ‘approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace in our time of need (Heb. 4:16).

Prayer is the great privilege of the Christian.  In fact, prayer is the air we breath to live the Christian life!       

5 Challenges to become a praying church

To help us become a praying church I want to give five challenges.

Increase the time of prayer during our meetings:

‘If local churches were to bow down before God every Sunday for ten or twenty or thirty minutes, what might God be free to do?’ (John Stott). 

My confidence in prayer during the service was damaged when I asked a teenager what she thought of church.  She said the prayers of intersession were boring.  But we don’t come to church to be entertained, but to encourage each other to love and good deeds (Heb. 10:24).  As a house of prayer for the nations, prayer is a serious responsibility.

I would challenge those who lead the services to aim at fifteen minutes of praying during our meeting.  That’s not all in one lump of prayer, but spread out.  I would also say that we need to be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit by putting a time on how long we pray for.

Over the last couple of years, it seems like the times of intersessions have deepened.  It is clear that those who have been asked to pray are not simply praying off the top of their heads but have thought and prepared to led us in this part of our time together.

Change the direction of the meeting: 

We tend to work towards the sermon and finish quickly after the sermon.  However, we should respond to the preaching in prayer.  Teaching can fuel our prayers.  Prayer is possibly the most important thing we do as we gather.  We need to aim to start the sermon earlier and leave more time after the sermon to pray.

It can be hard to get out of the house in the morning, and it might be especially difficult to get here early if you have young children.  But I would love to see people gathering in the hall at 10:15 to pray for half an hour before we begin to welcome people. 

I also long for the day when it becomes quite natural for people to go to the prayer room after the service and receive the prayer they need to face the trials we all face.

Restore the Lord’s Prayer: 

When the disciples asked Jesus saying, ‘teach us to pray’, He gave us a model prayer.  That prayer should shape the way we pray.  I also think it is valuable to pray this prayer together.  I think that we should pray it from the screen so that those who are new to the faith don’t feel left out.  I also like praying it from the screen as I have often left out bits as I have led this prayer.

Last week I was preaching in another church.  The person who was leading led us in a Puritan prayer from a book called ‘The Valley of Vision’.  It was lovely!  When we did the Rooted course one of the things that people loved was to study church history.  It is wonderful to remind ourselves that we are a part of a family that has a long history.  While we do not pray to the saints of old, we can pray with the saints of old.  I think that we should also seek to find prayers from other lands so that we can pray globally.

Pray better during the week: 

In evangelical churches the tradition used to be that of a midweek prayer meeting.  In the later part of the last century these were replaced with home groups.  Small groups are good, and we encourage everyone to be a part of one.  But they need to be seen as prayer groups more than study groups.

Church’s like ours put a good emphasis on teaching.  But there can be a temptation to rush prayer in our small groups.  I am probably the most guilty of this.  I often let the study time run on and then just have us rap up in prayer. 

I would suggest that we work to make the prayer time the main part of our small groups.  Also, don’t just pray for the needs of those in your group but also the mission of this church and the mission global church.  Perhaps you could do things like having one person set aside to give updates on the persecuted church or outreach to the Muslim world.

If you haven’t attended one of the prayer evenings that Amy and Conor have been running I really would encourage you.  They will really encourage you.  This is something we want to grow and become a core part of who we are.

Be real and vulnerable:

Praying with people involves an atmosphere of grace.  We are called to confess our sins to each other, and then we get the beauty of assuring each other of God’s forgiveness.  We need to pray with people for help with those sins that seem to beset us.  But we will never feel safe to pray with people who seem always to be criticising.  Develop true friendship with gracious and loving people that you can pray with honestly and who can maintain your trust.

Conclusion

Over the last few years God has blessed us with growth.  We are at a point when I believe we are being challenged to take the next step.  But what does that next step involve?  I think that there are three things we need to do: define, refine and replicate.

Define:  Who are we as a church?  What are our values?  What do we think are the ingredients of a healthy church?  This series is a part of the defining process.  It is also a part of the refining process.

Refine:  How can we grow in health?  Where are we weak?  What do we need to do better?  This morning we are being challenged to answer the call to be a house of prayer for the nations.

Replicate:  The Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland sees itself as a church-planting network.  Once we have decided on who we should be as a church then we want to spread by establishing like-minded fellowships.  This will need to involve a lot of prayer.  We need to ask God to close certain doors and open others.  We need sanctified common sense that is bathed in prayer as we examine such questions as: Where is the greatest need?  Where do we already have people located?  How can we establish churches that are intimate and local?

So far, the mission statement we are working on looks like this: ‘Limerick Baptist Church seeks to reflect the beauty of Jesus as a diverse community of Christians love each other well and serve Him as a house of prayer for the nations.’

Resurrection and the end of pain (John 14:1-3)

 

I am conscious that my grief is not unique.  My dad was 92 and we had a great relationship.  I am aware that most of you have lost loved ones.  Pain is an inevitable consequence of living in a fallen world.

My grief is somewhat complicated by the fact that I struggle with an anxiety disorder, but again that does not make me unique.  I am aware that many of you will struggle with mental health issues, or have people you love who do.

This morning I want us to see that Jesus speaks into our suffering at Easter time.

I have three points:

                - Easter shows us that we have no friend like Jesus.

                - Easter shows us the depths of His love.

                - Easter shows us that Jesus wants us.

1.  Easter shows us that we have no friend like Jesus

Do not let your hearts be troubled.   Trust God.  Trust also in me.’

These are the words that I feel Jesus has been challenging me with at this time.  ‘Trust me.’  But why would we trust Jesus?  Well look at the sort of friend that He is!

This is the night before the crucifixion.  On that night Jesus could have demanded that the disciples comfort Him, for he was going to go through far more than they.  But instead He comforted them.  It was almost as if He was more concerned about their suffering than His own.

Then think of who this is that He is comforting.  He knows that these men will desert him at His greatest hour of need.  But He holds no bitterness against them.

There is no friend like Jesus.

He then tells them that He will deal with our greatest fear, the fear of death.

In my Father’s house are many rooms, if it were not so would I have told you?  We misunderstand Jesus if we think that He is reluctant to bring people to the Father’s house.  He is a God who delights to rescue people.

But how do we cope as we live in the shadow of death.  The Good Shepherd is with us.  These disciples will have many difficult days in the years ahead, but he will be with them.  Look down at verse 18, ‘I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.’  He is talking about how He wills send them Holy Spirit after He has ascended to heaven.  Somehow, where the Spirit is, there the Father and the Son are also.

One of the terms we use for the Holy Spirit is ‘comforter.’  God promises to be close to the broken hearted and to lift up those who are crushed in spirit’ (Ps. 34:18).  He is more than close to us, He is in us.

2.  Easter shows us the depths of Jesus love

‘… I am going there to prepare a room for you’ (2b). 

I don’t think that He is saying that ‘I am going to my Father’s house and when I am there I will spend my time decorating a room for you.’  I think He is saying, ‘I am going, and in my going via the cross and the resurrection, I am preparing a room for you in my Father’s house.’

It is as He takes our guilt upon Himself on the cross and as He is raised to life that we are made ready for heaven.  Through His work we are forgiven and changed.  Being a Christian is not about what we do for God, but accepting what He has done for us in Jesus.

This life is genuinely offered to all of us.  Jesus desired than none would reject it.  But if we refuse His love and will not let Him transform us by His grace then we will be excluded from His forgiveness and spend eternity apart from Him.  I wish it were not so, but that is the clear teaching of the Bible.

C. S. Lewis explained that at the end of the day there are only two types of people.  Those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done’, and those to whom God says, ‘Thy will be done.’  All those in hell choose it.

Easter shows us that Jesus wants us

‘And if I go to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you may be where I am’ (3). 

There is a debate about what this coming back is referring to.  Is it Jesus’ coming back to be with them after the resurrection, or when He sends the Holy Spirit, of bring us to Himself at the end of our lives or His final return?  I don’t know.  But what I do know is that it expresses His longing.  It is almost as if He is saying to them, ‘I love you so much, that I must have you in my Father’s house with me.  The Father’s house without my people is not enough for me.  So, I will come back to bring you to where I am.’

Indeed, this longing gives us the assurance that He will never let us go.  ‘And this is the will of my Him who sent me, that I shall lose none of them that He has given me, but raise them up on the last day’ (6:39).

Conclusion

Many of you have experienced greater grief than I am going through.  Jesus suffered more than all of us.  In this life we will have many sorrows.  But He has given us the Comforter, and He has given us each other.  He has given us His Word, with promises of His presence and wisdom for our need.  And he speaks of a future day, when the risen Christ brings all our pain to an end.  Then there will be no more crying or sickness or pain or death.  Then God Himself will wipe away every tear from our eyes.

Easter shows us that Jesus is a trustworthy friend.

Easter shows us the depths of His love.

Easter shows us that Jesus wants to be with us.      

‘The terrible and marvellous consequences of rejection’ Mark 12:1-12

On time, many years ago, I was at the swimming pool with my friends.  I saw one of them and swam up behind him to push him down under the water.  I caught him unaware, particularly unaware because the person I dunked did not know me.  It was only someone who looked like my friend from the behind.  I had to apologise to the rather startled stranger.

Getting people’s identity confused can lead to funny situations (just ask Stephen Blevins, whose identical twin will be taking our harvest services next Sunday)!  It can also be dangerous.  Supposing you are driving down the M1 and you notice a flashing blue light on the car behind you but you think to yourself ‘no that’s not the police, that’s just a boy-racer with some fancy gadget attached to his roof.’  So you ignore the car, worse still you think you’ll give them a race!  You are going to be in big trouble aren’t you?[1] 

Last week we saw some men who did not recognise someone important.  They approached Jesus and asked, “By what authority are you doing these things? . . . And who gave you authority to do this?”  They did not recognise where Jesus’ authority came from because they did not recognise who he really was!  This lack of recognition is actually inexcusable.  In Mark’s Gospel not recognising Jesus as the Messiah is the result of a hardness of heart.  They had refused to face up to the fact here was the promised King, they had resisted his authority, and so they neither knew who this was nor where his authority came from.  Take note, ‘you will never the know power Jesus Christ in your own life unless you are prepared to submit to his authority.’[2]   

If you have refused to face up to who Jesus is, if you have resisted his authority over your life then these verses should make you feel uncomfortable.  For here Jesus tells the religious leaders of the terrible consequences, for them, of their rejection of him.  He also speaks of the wonderful consequence of their rejection of him—the stone the builders rejected has become the capstone, and it is marvellous in our eyes.  Mark wrote this letter to the church at Rome. To those who were Christians there, and to those who are Christians here, these verses contain a message of encouragement!

A tale of treason! (1-8)

At the end of last week’s passage we saw that Jesus refused to answer the religious leaders’ questions directly.  However, then he begins to speak to them in parables.  In this parable that we are examining he does tell them who he is and he also tells them of who they are!

They should recognise the background to this story immediately—it’s from our Old Testament reading, Isaiah 5 (verses 1-7).  There God owns a vineyard—that vineyard is his people Israel.  Sadly, this vineyard did not produce good grapes.  It had produced only bad fruit.  Rather than justice his people have produced bloodshed, rather than righteousness they have caused distress.  So the vineyard is going to be destroyed.

Jesus now adds some more details to the story. 

There are the tenants, the people who are to look after the vineyard—they are the religious leadership.  That is who Jesus is addressing (v.1) and at the end of the story they know that Jesus had spoken this parable against them (v. 12).

Then there are the many servants sent by the vineyard owner.  The tenants treat these shamefully—beating some killing others.  We can see this happen right throughout the history of the Old Testament.  God sent many prophets to Israel (how patient he was with them), yet the people – and in particular their leadership – rejected and mistreated them.

Finally, Jesus introduces himself into the story.  Surely if the vineyard owner sends his Son they will respect him!  However, the tenants think ‘here is the heir of this vineyard.  If we kill him then the vineyard will one day be ours.’[3]  Note what motivates the tenants rejection of the Son—self!  They will not give him what is due to him.  It is the same for us if we are resisting Jesus’ authority over our lives—we don’t want to be his loyal subjects, we want to run things our own way, we’re being selfish!

The tenants took him and killed him, and threw him out of the vineyard.  Jesus is describing what will happen at the end of the week: that Friday the tenants – those religious leaders – will have the Son killed.  It’s an act of treason against God, as they oppose his rightful authority in order to keep the authority over the people for themselves.

The religious leaders had asked Jesus ‘who gave you this authority?  Here is the answer—‘God did, I am sent by him, I am his Son.  What’s more, look at who you are!’ 

Jesus has a question for those religious leaders: What then will the owner of the vineyard do?  He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.  They will receive an awful punishment for their treason against God in killing his Son and the religious authority that they had over God’s people has been transferred to the twelve disciples—the tenants are killed and the responsibility for the vineyard has been given to others.

While the tenants in this passage are a specific group of people—the religious leadership, the warning has relevance to everyone who refuses to recognise who Jesus is.  If you will not submit to his claim over you then you are giving assent to what they have done.  You are saying to those tenants, ‘I agree with your treason for I too oppose Father’s authority and the Son’s authority over me.’  You can be sure that if you continue in your rebellion you will face an outcome similar to theirs.

When we share the gospel with people we are not just telling them that God can make their life better.  We are also warning them that God who lovingly offers each person his mercy and acceptance, is the God who will judge those who resist his authority by rejecting the authority of the Son. 

A new temple will replace the old—(10-11)

Now Jesus gives them another picture from the Old Testament—it’s from Psalm 118. 

“The stone the builders rejected

has become the capstone;

the Lord has done this,

and it is marvellous in our eyes.”

The picture is that of constructing the temple.  However, there is a problem—the builders have rejected the most important thing.  The stone that the builders rejected is the Jesus himself.  The temple should have been centred on him—its sacrifices anticipated his suffering cross, its worship should have looked forward to his coming, when he went into it he should have been welcomed as its focus.  Yet Jesus found it to be a place of empty godless religion and so it was going to be destroyed.

Jesus was the stone that the builders rejected but God does something marvellous this rejected stone—he builds a new temple. Not one made of stones and located in Jerusalem, but one that is a world-wide community of people centred on Christ.

The great dividing line in humanity is not between those who are religious and those who are not (these men were the religious authorities); it is not between those who pray and those who don’t (you can be sure that these guys prayed); it is not between those who read their Bible and the don’t (they were experts in the Scriptures).  The great dividing line in humanity is between those who reject Jesus and those who lives have him as their foundation.  Going to church, praying, and reading your Bible are all meaningless if you haven’t yet submitted your life to the authority of Jesus—if you haven’t become a loyal subject of the king.[4] 

Sometimes people want to be ‘church-goers’ but they don’t want to live for Jesus.  They want Christianity without Christ.  They miss the capstone!  For those of us who claim to be Christians, there can be the danger of forgetting that Christianity is Christ—that it is because of him that we are accepted by God and that it is because of him that we are joined together as church (part of his new temple).

What should be the reaction of Mark’s original readers in the church at Rome when they reflect upon the fact that Jesus, who was rejected by the temple authorities, has become the capstone of a living temple of which they are a part?  It is marvellous in our eyes.  They are to marvel!  What should be our reaction to the fact that that temple extends to us—that the gospel has being brought to this island and we have been given the opportunity to become one of Christ’s people?  We are to marvel!  The whole thing should be marvellous to us!

It should cause us to marvel.  We should think about it and think ‘wow!’ with a bigger ‘wow’ than we might think if we were standing looking at the Grand Canyon—this is more amazing!  It is marvellous and it gives us reason to celebrate.  This marvellous thing should cause more joy than any renovations to our home, a new car, or the holiday that we are looking forward to.  It’s simply the best things ever.  Even when life stinks and we may feel utterly down, there is something amazing that we can be glad about—we are a part of God’s new temple centred on Jesus, because of his rejection to a cross we have become one of his dearly loved people!

Conclusion:

It is a dangerous thing to refuse to recognise certain people!  It would not be good advice to tell a person in court to ignore the person with the wig and the robes—they might end up behind bars. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to recognise who Jesus is, resisting his authority.  The religious leaders who had confronted Jesus had done that. There opposition to him was treason against God and they would face a dreadful judgement for what they had done.  If you have refused to face up to who Jesus is, not submitted you life to the authority he claims over you consider this—in resisting him you give assent to the tenants treason and you will face a similar judgement.  In a couple of moments I am going to invite you to repent of your rebellion and to enthrone him as the rightful king of your life!

If you have submitted your life to him I want you to see that there is something marvellous in this passage.  What Jesus prophesied would happened did happen—the tenants did kill the Son, that Friday Jesus was crucified and buried.  But the stone that the builders rejected has become the capstone—the Lord has built a new temple, a living temple, of people who have come to Jesus.  After this sermon I am going to ask you to marvel at this—that he has made us a part of his temple centred on Christ; and during the week, even if things seem awful, try to take some time to marvel!

 

 

 

 

 

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[1] Illustration idea adapted from Mark Meynell, Christ Church, Fullwood.

[2] Roger Simpson, preaching of Mark 11:27-33, at All Soul’s, Langham Place.

[3] Under specified circumstances an inheritance could be regards as ‘ownerless property’, which could be lawfully claimed by anyone, the prior right of ownership belonging to the claimant who comes first.  Lane (1974), The Gospel of Mark, Eerdmans. 

[4] Point adapted from Rupert Higgins, preaching at All Soul’s, Langham Place.

During the Methodist church’s conference last June one minister said the following during a discussion: ‘God has given us many religions, but only one world.’  His sentiment was sincere, he longs for harmony between differing people groups, but his theology was rubbish.  The religion of the temple had rejected Jesus and so was of no value—any religion that does not centre on him is worthless.

 

Deuteronomy: ‘The One and Only

 

This book opens with God’s people in the wilderness preparing to enter the promised land—do you get a feeling deja-vous?  We’ve been here before—at the beginning of Numbers.  However in Numbers a whole generation of adults[2] failed to trust God and enter the land, so they died in the desert.  Now we are preparing for entry again.     

On the plains of Moab, by the river Jordan, Moses addresses them before he dies.  In three sermons he gives them God’s instructions.  He urges them not to blow it like their parent’s generation had, in the light of all that God had done they are to trust and obey.  

Sermon 1 ‘The One and Only’ (chapters 1:5-4):

The first and shortest sermon begins in chapter 1 verse 5.  In this Moses spends a lot of time reminding them of what has been happening during their time in the wilderness.  Despite the fact that God had preformed miraculous signs among them the people had refused to believe that he could conquer the inhabitants of Canaan.  So that generation did not enter the land.  ‘Just like you might send a disobedient child to his or her room, God sent a disobedient Israel into the desert to think over their “attitude problem”’[3].  God did however care for them in the wilderness (2:7), and strengthened them so that, after the period of discipline, the next generation could receive the Promised Land.[4]

Moses reminds them of these things to highlight what God is like.  To show them how God does things—so that they might know who it is that they are dealing with.  In chapter 4 comes the most important thing they are to know about God—he is ‘the One and Only’: . . . ‘the LORD is God; besides him there is no other’ (NIV) (4:35).  This is not only the central message of the first sermon—this is the central message of the whole book.      

Sermon 2 Part 1:  ‘God who takes the initiative’ (chapters 5-7):  

The second sermon, which begins in chapter 5, is the longest by far.  It has, however, a simple structure: after telling them more about the LORD, Moses focuses on how they should respond to him.  With this in mind we are going to divide the sermon in two.

It opens by reminding them that their relationship with God is the result of God’s initiative.  It was God who rescued them from Egypt (5:6)—and in so doing made them into a nation; and it was God who initiated a covenant with this new nation at Sinai (Horeb) (5:2).

As in Exodus, the Ten Commandments are introduced here with a reminder of what God has already done for them (5:6).  Their obedience to these commands is not what will save them.  God has already saved them!  Their obedience is to be their response to his salvation.

But why did God save them?  What prompted him to take the initiative?  Deuteronomy 7:6-9:

For you are a people holy to the LORD your God.  The LORD your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to be his people, his treasured possession.

The LORD did not set his affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples.  But it was because the LORD loved you and kept the oath he swore to your forefathers that he brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the land of slavery, from the power of Pharaoh king of Egypt.  Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands. (NIV)

Did God choose them because they were an impressive nation of people?  No!  Quite the opposite, they were insignificant.  He simply loved them because he loved them, and because he is the God who is faithful to his covenant promises.

When we think of our salvation we remember that God took the first step.  He rescued us from slavery—a second Exodus, on the cross freeing us from slavery to sin.  He has loved us even though we have done nothing to deserve that love.  Rom. 5:8 . . ‘God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (NIV).  He did not set his love on us because we were impressive or faithful, we were weak and rebellious.  To the Christian he says, ‘I love you not because you are better, or wiser, or more attractive, or more impressive than anyone else.  I simply love you because in grace I choose to love you.  Nothing can separate you from my love.’

 

Sermon 2: Part 2, Response: ‘Trust and Obey’ (Chapters 6-28)

Ch. 6 tells us that there is really only one fundamental response that Israel should make to the LORD—to love him.  Verses 4-5, Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one [he is the one and only].  Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength’ (NIV).  They are to love him with every fibre of their being.

God has demonstrated his awesome love for them.  He has been committed to them through thick and thin.  Despite the stubbornness of his people he has stuck with them.  Yes, God disciplined them—he did it to wake them up to themselves.  He never stopped wanting the best for Israel.  That is biblical love.  It is essentially commitment.  Love is not just a warm, fuzzy feeling, although that may be a part of it.  Love is primarily a deliberate expression of loyalty.[5]

The remainder of the second sermon spells out the behaviour that is to demonstrate their love for the LORD.  Their love is to be shown in trust and obedience.

Israel’s first attempt to enter the Promised Land had ended in disaster because they had rebelled against God and refused to enter.  Moses points out that what they had been lacking was trust and obedience (see Duet. 9:23-24).  As a result they spent forty years in the wilderness.  Deuteronomy contains a great deal of instruction about how that wilderness experience should have taught them the importance of trust and obedience.

For example in chapter 8, Moses points to LORD’s provision of manna.  It should have taught them that God can be trusted.  Every day they had to trust God to feed them, and not once had he failed them.  Now as they prepared to enter the land they were to trust God, and once in the land—enjoying its luxuries, they were not to forget that everything comes from God.   

At the start of chp.11, Moses takes another lesson they should have learned from their time in the wilderness—a lesson to teach them the importance of obeying God.  Dathan and Abiram treated God with contempt and were literally swallowed up by the earth (see Numbers 16:1-35).  Through such events God reminds the people that obedience is important—as is spelt out in the rest of that chapter.

The rest of the second sermon is heavy going.  It contains lots of specific ways they are to obey God once in the Promised Land.  Their diversity reminds us that every aspect of life is relevant to God.  Some of them are extensions of the Ten Commandments, applying their principles for a new setting.  Many are designed to be a reminder of God’s absolute holiness.

But what about us, are we to follow all the commands that are given here?  We have looked at this already in our Bible overview.  The laws Moses gave to Israel were for the old covenant, not the new.  Christians are no longer under the law (e.g. Rom. 6:14). 

However, that does not mean that these verses are irrelevant.  When we read them we should look behind the law and consider what aspect of God’s character it is referring to.  For example, many of the laws relate to God’s concern for the needy—as we read them we remember that God is merciful. 

One last thing about obedience before we move on to the third sermon: Israel was to keep these laws out of love for God.  This was not supposed to be a dry, cold, legalism.  This was to be a labour of love.  In the same way, as Christians, we are to obey God out of love for him.  God has saved us, he has made us his people, and in response we ought to love him with thankful hearts.  And our love should be show itself in obedience.  As Jesus said, ‘If you love me you will obey my commands’ (John 14:15).

 

Sermon 3: ‘Happily ever after?’(Chapters 29-33):

As we reach the third and last sermon the unimaginable is about to happen—Moses is going to die.  He was the leader God used to bring them out of Egypt, who led them while they were in the wilderness.  In preparation for Moses’ death Joshua is endorsed as his successor (31:1-8), and the things that God had told Moses are written down (31:9-13).

In this last sermon Moses presents them with a choice.  It is a choice that all of Deuteronomy has been presenting to them.  Are they going to follow God when they enter the Promised Land?  It’s a choice between life and death; between God’s way and their own way. 

If they choose God’s way it will be like Eden all over again—they will be God’s people, in God’s place, enjoying God’s blessing.  If they choose to go their own way it will be like the Fall all over again. As Adam and Eve were removed from the garden, so they will be removed from the Promised Land (see chapter 28).

In the last chapters we see what Israel’s choice will be. Again they will choose not to follow him.  Continue reading through the Old Testament and you’ll see what happens.  We read of continued rebellion, idolatry, corrupt kings, and civil war until—in line with his warning in Deuteronomy—God tears Israel out of the Promised Land (first by sending the Assyrians and then the Babylonians to conquer and displace them—see 1 and 2 Kings).

So a book that began with such hope—a new generation about to enter the Promised Land, ends in disappointment—Israel will mess it up again!  It leaves us with questions: ‘what can be done to make a people who are obedient?’ ‘Is there any way that sin can finally be dealt with?’    

These questions point us to Jesus.  For on the cross Jesus broke the grip of sin in our lives.  On the cross Jesus opened up the way for us to be forgiven by God and become his obedient children.  Moreover, Jesus’ followers have the Spirit living within them, enabling us to put to death our sinful nature.[6]

 

Conclusion:

The LORD is the one and only.  Who or what else is there that should command our greatest loyalty?

The LORD is the gracious God, who rescued his people from slavery in Egypt.  Therefore Israel’s fundamental response to him is to be one of grateful love.  A love that was to be demonstrated by trusting him and obeying him!

The LORD has rescued us from something worse than slavery in Egypt—slavery to sin.  Therefore our fundamental response to him is to be one of grateful love.  A love demonstrated by trusting and obeying.  This is a response we can make because Jesus has given us a fresh start and a fresh heart!

 

 

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[1] A lot of this sermon used material adapted from Bryson Smith, The One and Only.  Interactive Bible Study available from www.thegoodbook.co.uk

[2] With the exception of Joshua and Caleb.

[3] Bryson Smith, The One and Only, p. 13. 

[4] Bryson Smith, The One and Only, p. 16. 

[5] Bryson Smith, The One and Only, p. 33.

[6] Moses had seen that a radical work was necessary in the heart was needed (Duet. 30:1-10).

J. G. Millar, ‘Despite all that God has done for his people, they will surely disobey.  Moses however, goes on to anticipate the later prophetic discussions of the ‘new covenant’ [e.g. Jer. 31-34].  The grace which God has shown to Israel in the past will one day be surpassed by his provision of a lasting solution to the problem of human sin.  At the deepest level, the theology of Deuteronomy is a theology of grace, and thus anticipates the coming of Jesus to deal with the problem as human sin. In Alexander and Rosner (Ed.s), New Dictionary of Biblical Theology.