HOW CAN WE TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN?

Exodus 20:7

INTRODUCTION

There are sixteen Hebrew words in the Old Testament for “vain.” Among the meanings are:

denied

empty

failed

false (Exodus 20:7)

for no purpose

a lie

a shadow

words of wind

It is important to know how to avoid vanity in our relationship with God. When we are out of proper fellowship with Him we are taking His name with us in vain.

THEME: HOW CAN WE TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN?

I. WE CAN TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN BY OUR WORDS

     A. Thoughts Come From The Heart

          1. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh         Matthew 12:34

          2. The vain thing is that which seemed to promise something and failed to fulfill the promise

          3. For they speak with great swelling words of vanity … II Peter 2:18

     B. The Saved Person Can Be Saved From The Abundance Of The Evil Heart

          1. ye know ye were not redeemed from corruptible things … from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers I Peter 1:18

          2. Let no man deceive you with vain words  Ephesians 5:6 cf. John 15:21

     C. Paul Taught Timothy About Vain Profanity

          1. … avoiding profane and vain babblings    I Timothy 6:20

          2. Shun profane and vain babblings   II Timothy 2:16

NOTE: “Profane” contempt for sacred things

NOTE: In Scripture the name of God is confined to:

          a. Prayer

          b. Praise

          c. Thanksgiving

T.S. HOW CAN WE TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN?

          I. WE CAN TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN BY OUR WORDS

II. WE CAN TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN BY OUR THOUGHTS

NOTE: It is quite possible to keep above all coarseness and vulgarity of speech and yet in God’s sight be far worse than a habitual swearer

     A. Thoughts Of Self Exaltation

          1. Let us not be desirous of vain glory        Galatians 5:26

          2. … that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind … to work all uncleanness with greediness  Ephesians 4:17-19

     B. Thoughts That Exclude God

          1. Turn away thine eye from beholding vanity       Psalm 119:37

          2. For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he …         Proverbs 23:7

          3. … why do the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things?   Acts 4:25

NOTE: vs. 26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ

T.S. HOW CAN WE TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN?

          I. WE CAN TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN BY OUR WORDS

         II. WE CAN TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN BY OUR THOUGHTS

III. WE CAN TAKE THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN BY OUR ACTIONS

NOTE: “Take” – Hebrew

To take up

To lift up

To raise up

NOTE: We take the name of God in vain in the service of:

          a. Untruth

          b. Lying

          c. Witchcraft

     A. Actions Of Worship

          1. But in vain do they worship me Matthew 15:9

          2. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men (Pharisaism)          Mark 7:7

     B. Actions of Service

          1. It is vain to serve God Malachi 3:1

          2. … for vain is the help of men         Psalm 60:11

     C. Actions of faithlessness

          1. But avoid foolish questions, genealogies, contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain      Titus 3:9

          2. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory …     Philippians 3:2

CONCLUSION

The sin of the First Commandment banishes the name of Jehovah by means of idol worship.

The sin of the Second Commandment obscures and disfigures Jehovah.

The sin of the Third Commandment abuses the name of God.

NOTE: Misuses, used rudely, not reverently

The only time the word “reverend” is found in the Bible is Psalm 111:9; ” … holy and reverend is His name.”

The Lord’s Prayer begins:   “Hallowed by Thy name … “

TAKING THE LORD’S NAME IN VAIN

Exodus 20:7

INTRODUCTION

The Third Commandment tells us to reverence His name.

Matthew 5:34-37; James 1:26; James 5:12

THEME: WHEN WE TAKE THE NAME OF THE LORD OUR GOD IN VAIN:

I. WE GIVE A NEGATIVE TESTIMONY

     A. We Must Separate Ourselves From Our Vain Past

NOTE: Some Biblical meanings of “vain”

          a. Lack of:

               1) Truth

               2) Success

          b. Discussions of vain and useless matters

          c. Empty pride

          d. Empty talk

          e. Endeavors, labors, acts, which result in nothing

          f. Self esteem

          g. Useless, of no purpose

          h. Vessels that contain nothing

          i. Without purpose

          j. Without success

          1. I Peter 1:18

          2. Ephesians 5:6

          3. I Timothy 6:20

     B. We Must Separate Ourselves From Exalting Ourselves

          1. Galatians 5:26

          2. Ephesians 4:17-19

     B. We Must Never Exclude God From Our Thought Process

          1. Psalm 119:37

          2. Proverbs 23:7

          3. Acts 4:25-26

     C. We Must Not Cast Any Bad Reflections And Dishonor On His Name

          1. Take

               a. To lift up

               b. To carry

               c. To support

          2. Name

               a. Reputation

               b. Fame

               c. Glory

II. WE DO NOT RESPECT HIM

     A. Actions Of Worship

          1. Matthew 15:9

          2. Mark 7:7

     B. Actions of Service

          1. Malachi 3:1

          2. Psalm 60:11

     C. Actions Of Faithlessness

          1. Titus 3:9

          2. Philippians 3:2

NOTE: We must reverence and honor the name of God           Matthew 6:9

NOTE: This is a commandment to bridle the tongue          James 3:1-8

     D. Ways of Taking His Name in Vain

          1. To speak lightly and irreverently of His name     Deuteronomy 28:58

               a. David reverenced the name of God   Psalm 50:1, 83:18

               b. The disciples honored the name of Jesus      Luke 24:19

          2. When we speak lightly of God or His works:

               a. He interprets it as contempt

               b. He interprets it as taking His name in vain

NOTE: To profess God’s name, yet live denying it          Titus 1:16

NOTE: Pretended holiness is double wickedness Romans 2:24

          3. To use God’s name in idle conversation

               a. Slang use of His name – i.e. “Jesus Christ!”

               b. This is to have God in the mouth and the devil in the heart

               c. God does not consume us      Leviticus 5:2

               d. To worship Him with our lips and not our heart

          4. God calls for our heart        Proverbs 23:26

               a. The heart is the chief thing in worship

                    1) It draws the will and affections after it

                    2) It is the altar that sanctified the offering

               b. To withdraw the heart from Him is to take His name in vain  Isaiah 29:13

          5. When worship is a lie

               a. We “seem” to honor God, but we do not love Him

               b. Our hearts go after lusts            Hosea 4:8

               c. We lift our eyes to heaven, but our heart is on earth Ezekiel 33:31

               d. We pray to Him, but not believe Him

          6. Faith honors God    Romans 4:20

               a. To disbelieve God is serious  I John 5:10

               b. To pray and not believe dishonors God        Psalms 86:5

III. WE PERVERT HIS WORD

     A. To Profane And Abuse His Word

          1. How can wicked people talk of holy things?

          2. Satan even said, “It is written”

          3. Those who scorn His word            II Peter 3:4

NOTE: Something awaits the scorners      Proverbs 19:29

          4. Those who joke about His Word

          5. Those who mock God       Proverbs 1:26

          6. Those who endeavor to make His word justify their sin

          7. Making Scripture endorse sin

NOTE: The covetous individual will misquote Scripture

          8. Those who pervert His word

          9. Those who swear by His name

               a. Vain swearing    Matthew 5:34

               b. Perjury    Leviticus 19:12, Zechariah 5:4

     B. The Sin Of Mixing God’s Name With Wickedness            II Samuel 15:7

          1. Absalom pretended to pay his vow to God only as a cover-up of his treason         II Samuel 15:10

          2. Those who use their tongues anyway to the dishonoring of the name of God

               a. Making rash and vows Psalms 66:13-14

NOTE: Jephthah’s vow         Judges 11:31

               b. Speaking evil against God       Numbers 21-5

                    1) Murmuring accuses God’s justice   Genesis 18:25

                    2) Murmuring criticizes God     Numbers 14:27

               c. Those who make a promise they know they will not keep

                    1) “If God spares me, I will do such and such”

                    2) To make a promise, mentioning God’s name, but we never intend to keep it – it is a double sin

                         a) It is telling a lie

                         b) It is using His name in vain

     C. The LORD Will Not Hold Us Guiltless

          1. Guiltless

               a. Unpunished

               b. Innocent

               c. Pure

          2. Sometimes God punishes swearing and blasphemy in this life           Leviticus 24:11, 23

         3. If God does not punish us in this life, we cannot escape His judgment and wrath to come    Hebrews 10:31

CONCLUSION

THE SABBATH

Exodus 20:8-11

INTRODUCTION

The Fourth commandment tells us of a special time to worship God. This is the only commandment that is not repeated in the New Testament.

I. THE NECESSITY OF THE SABBATH         Exodus 20:8

     A. The Remembrance Of The Sabbath Day

          1. Remember

               a. A memorial

               b. Keep in remembrance

               c. Recall to mind

          2. Keep it holy

               a. Set apart

               b. To treat as sacred

     B. The Issue Of Priorities Of Life

          1. There was the resting from our own works

          2. It was sacred as we do our religious duties

     C. The Command Is From God            Exodus 20:9-10

     D. The Reason For This Command

         1. It is rational

NOTE: It was just and rational that a person set aside in a special way a day to worship God

          2. It is just:        God deserved this day

          3. The role model of God on the sabbath

               a. He rested on the seventh day

               b. Genesis 2:1-3

          4. Failure to keep it brought a curse  Jeremiah 17:27, Malachi 2:2

     E. The Purpose Of This Command

          1.  God appointed it for Himself

NOTE: God has reserved one day in seven for His own immediate service

          2. He appointed it for people

               a. It was for our own interest

               b. It promoted holiness

                    1) The business week promotes forgetfulness of God

                    2) The Sabbath brings our minds back to God

     F. The Advice Of This Command

NOTE:  “Six days shalt thou labor”

          1. Labor is our duty    II Thessalonians 3:11, Genesis 3:19

NOTE: Adam was given work to perform           Genesis 2:15

          2. The example of the ant      Proverbs 6:6, 30:25

          3. The warning of the Word   Proverbs 24:31, Matthew 25:26

          4. The need for rest

               a. Exodus 31:17

               b. Exodus 23:12

II. HOW WE BIBLICALLY VIEW THE SABBATH DAY

     A. The Jewish Sabbath of the Old Testament

          1. It was Saturday       the 7th day

          2. The substance of this command was the keeping of one day in seven as God so appointed

     B. The Lord’s Day Of The New Testament

          1. The church has no power to ordain a “Sabbath”

NOTE:  This commandment is the only commandment not repeated in the New Testament. When the church at Jerusalem gave commands to Gentile Christians, the Sabbath was not included. Acts 15:19-20

          2. Jesus Christ is “Lord of the Sabbath”      Mark 2:28

               a. “Who shall appoint a day, but he who is Lord of it?”

               b. He made this day          Psalms 118:24

          3. Jesus Christ and the “Lord’s Day”

               a. Sunday, the 1st day

               b. It is called “The Lord’s Day”      Revelation 1:10

               c. Christ arose on the first day      John 20:1

               d. Christ appeared to His disciples on the first day       John 20:19, 26

          4. The keeping of the first day was practiced by the apostles      Acts 20:7

          5. It was the day observed by the early church      I Corinthians 16:1-2

     C. Comparison of the Sabbath and The Lord’s Day

          1. The Sabbath commemorated the finished work of creation

          2. The Lord’s Day commemorates the finished work of redemption

               a. The cost was greater to redeem than to create

               b. Creation was the speaking of a word  Psalms 33:6, 9

               c. In redemption there was shedding of blood  I Peter 1:19

               d. In creation God gave us ourselves; in redemption He gave us Himself

               e. In creation we had a right to an earthly paradise; in redemption we have a title to a heavenly kingdom

     D. The Setting Apart Of The Sabbath

NOTE:  There is a similar parallel in the Lord’s Day

          1. No Work Apart From God – “No work on it”

NOTE:  When we worship God, we should leave all worldly business behind

          2. The profaning of the Sabbath in Nehemiah’s day          Nehemiah 13:15, 17

          3. The Lord forbade manna to be gathered on the Sabbath        Exodus 16:26-28

          4. The punishment of offenders        Numbers 15:35

          5. The example of the New Testament       Luke 23:56

               a. Some work was done on the Sabbath          John 7:23

               b. The work of mercy

     E. The Goal Of The Sabbath – “Keep It Holy”

          1. Prepare for it

          2. Observe it

               a. By reading the Word    John 17:17

               b. The Word is to be desired       Psalm 19:10

          3. The Word will bless           Luke 24:31-32

               a. By meditation

                    1) On the work of creation        Psalm 33:6, Psalm 104:24, 107:24, 124:8

                    2) On God’s holiness   Psalms 111:9, Habakkuk 1:13

                    3) On Christ’s redeeming love            Revelation 1:5, II Corinthians 5:21, John 10:17, 15:9

                   4) On the glory of Heaven       Revelation 21 and 22

               b. By prayer           Matthew 6:6

               c. By the hearing of the preached word  I Thessalonians 2:13

NOTE: The example of Lydia          Acts 16:14

NOTE: The people listened to Christ          Luke 19:48

     F. The Sabbath Was For Hearing The Word Of God

          1. The issue of distraction on the Sabbath   I Corinthians 7:35

               a. Distraction hinders devotion

               b. Distraction can come from Satan

NOTE:  Satan’s design is to render the Word fruitless     Matthew 13:19

               c. Distraction can come from our wandering thoughts

                    1) Coming from the eye          Job 31:1

                    2) Coming from the heart         Mark 7:21

                    3) Coming from an evil habit   Jeremiah 13:23

          2. The evil of distraction

               a. It can disrespect God’s presence        Amos 4:13

               b. It is hypocrisy to have wandering minds         Isaiah 39:13

               c. It can reveal a lack of love         Proverbs 3:3

               d. Wandering thoughts poison a duty and turns it into sin         Psalms 109:7

               e. It offends God   Ezekiel 33:31

               f. It hardens the heart         Psalm 95:8; Hebrew 4:7

               g. It robs us of comfort      Proverbs 17:24

          3. The battle of vain thoughts            II Corinthians 10:3-5

               a. Pray and watch against them

               b.  Labor for a holy frame of heart

NOTE: Love the Word          Psalm 119:11

          4. Drowsiness in hearing

               a. This can show much irreverence

               b. It can show contempt of God   Matthew 26:40

               c. It delights Satan Matthew 13:13

               d. We must lay aside those things that would make the preached Word fruitless

                    1) Such as curiosity – “itching ears”      I Timothy 4:3

                    2) Acts 17:21

                    3) Such as prejudice; the Sadducees            Luke 20:27

                    4) Such as covetousness        Ezekiel 33:31, Luke 16:14

                    5) Such as partiality; “We like to hear some truths, but not all”         Matthew 14:1-4

                    6) Such as disobedience         Romans 10:21

          4. The goal of hearing

               a. Develop a desire for the Word           I Peter 2:2

               b. Develop a delight in the Word            Psalms 119:103

               c. Hear the Word and mix it with faith      Hebrews 4:2

               d. Hear the Word humbly James 1:21, Psalms 25:9

               e. Lay the Word up in our memory         Luke 8:15

               f. Practice in our Christian walk the truth heard     Revelation 22:14

CONCLUSION

HONORING FATHER & MOTHER

Exodus 20:12

INTRODUCTION

There is a three-way relationship between us and God and other people. The first four commandments are God-ward responsibilities. The last six commandments are human-ward responsibilities.

We cannot be good in the first four if we are bad in the last six and we cannot be good in the last six if we are bad in the first four. We are faced with another law here. It might even be called the eleventh law. For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.     James 2:10 There is no Biblical basis for what has been described as a “smorgasbord religion.” We do not pick what commands we have decided to obey. God has given us no options.

The last six commandments have been called “the six marble pillars which hold up society.”

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.     Exodus 20:12

THEME: WHEN WE ARE RIGHT WITH OUR PARENTS WE:

I. MUST HONOR THEM

     A. The Nobility Of Honor For Our Parents

          1. Used 109 times in the Old Testament

          2. Definition of honor

               a. Brag about

               b. Build up

               c. Chargeable

               d. Dignity

               e. Glorify

               f. Great

               g. Heavy

               h. Promote

               i. Reputation

               j. Rich

          3. The New Testament counterpart used 16 times

               a. Esteem

               b. Revere

               c. To fix the value

               d. Value

     B. The Results Of Failure Towards Our Parents

          1. This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.     Matthew 15:8

          2. Knowing this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers         I Timothy 1:9

               a. Patricide

               b. Matricide

NOTE: Character assassination

T.S. WHEN WE ARE RIGHT WITH OUR PARENTS WE:

          I. MUST HONOR THEM

II. MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THEM

     A. The Acknowledgement Of Fathers

          1. “Father” is used 1,215 times in the Old Testament

               a. 419 times in the New Testament

               b. A total of 1,634 times in the Bible

     B. The Meaning Of “Father”

          1. Ancestor

          2. Father of an individual

          3. Forefathers

          4. Grandfather

          5. Head or founder of a household, group, family, or clan

          6. Of God as father of His people

          7. Originator of a class, profession, or art

          8. Ruler or chief

          9. A term of respect and honour

     C. Five Kinds Of Fathers

NOTE: And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.        Matthew 23:9

          a. Refers to the sense of spiritual father

          b. Indicates a superior spiritual position, even suggesting this person is the source of one’s spiritual life

          c. Members of the Sanhedrin lived to be called by the title father, when they acted in their official capacities

          d. The Roman Catholic Church and some formal Protestant churches use the term father as an official form of address for their clergy

          1) Abbot is a form of “father” (Hebrew – Abba)

          2) Pope is a form of “father” (Greek – Papa)

          1. The governmental father

               a. He is an encourager of integrity, a punisher of corruption, a father to the poor

NOTE: Job is an example      Job 29:16

               b. The Scriptures call kings “fathers”         Isaiah 49:23

               c. They are to be honored           I Peter 2:17

               d. They are to be prayed for        I Timothy 2:1

          2. The elderly gentleman       Leviticus 19:32

               a. Honored for his years of life

               b. Honored for his wisdom and godliness

     3. The spiritual fathers

NOTE: Pastors and ministers

          a. These are instruments of the new birth    I Corinthians 4:15

          b. These are messengers of the Lord          Malachi 2:7

          c. These represent God’s interests  II Corinthians 5:20

          d. These are to be honored  I Thessalonians 5:13

          e. These are to be given respect     I Thessalonians 5:12-13

NOTE: The example of Obadiah     I Kings 18:7

                f. We are to become advocates for them         I Timothy 5:19

               g. We are to conform to their doctrine      I Thessalonians 2:19; II Corinthians 3:1

          4. The master  II Kings 5:13

               a. Masters are to be obeyed      I Peter 2:18

               b. To disobey our earthly master is to disobey our Heavenly Master            Romans 13:2

               c. The servant is to honor his master by being faithful   Matthew 24:45

               d. To handle with integrity his master’s property            Titus 2:10

               e. The servant honors his master by serving his master in love           Titus 2:9, Colossians 3:22-24

          5. The biological, or natural, father

               a. The father of the flesh    Hebrews 12:9

               b. Children are the vineyard of the parent’s planting            Jewish proverb

     D. The Acknowledgment Of The Mothers

          1. “Mother”

               a. Found 220 times in the Old Testament

               b. Found 87 times in the New Testament

               c. Found a total of 307 times in the Bible

          2. The mother is to be treated an equal with the father

               a. And he that smiteth his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. Exodus 21:15

               b. And he that curseth his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death. Exodus 21:17

               c. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.        Psalm 27:10

               d. My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother         Proverbs 1:8

               e. The proverbs of Solomon. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother.       Proverbs 10:1

               f. A wise son maketh a glad father: but a foolish man despiseth his mother.  Proverbs 15:20

               g. Hearken unto thy father that begat thee, and despise not thy mother when she is old.  Proverbs 23:22

          3. The results of a mother’s life

               a. He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the LORD.         Psalms 113:9

               b. The rod and reproof give wisdom: but a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame.   Proverbs 29:15

               c. Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.        Proverbs 31:28

T.S. WHEN WE ARE RIGHT WITH OUR PARENTS WE:

          I. MUST HONOR THEM

         II. MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THEM

III. MUST BE AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES

     A. The Reasons Why Children Should Honor Parents

          1. It is a serious command of God

               a. God’s Word is the rule

               b. His will must be the reason of our obedience

          2. Parents deserve honor

               a. In the respect of the great love and affection which they bear to their children

               b. In respect to their care of bringing up their children

NOTE: Parents often take better care of their children than they do of themselves

          3. As children grow older, the care of the parents grows greater

               a. Their love is evidenced by their care  II Corinthians 12:14

NOTE: Not like ostriches      Job 39:13-16

               b. Children can never equal a parent’s love

NOTE: Parents are the instruments of life to their children, and children can never be so to parents        Quote

     B. To Honor Parents Is Well Pleasing To The Lord    Colossians 3:20

          1. God bestows a reward upon it     Exodus 20:12

          2. It is the first commandment with promise Ephesians 6:2

               a. It has the promise of long life   Psalm 128:6

               b. Nothing shortens life like disobedience

NOTE: Absalom was a disobedient son, and did not live out half his days. The mule he rode on left him handing in the oak between heaven and earth (as if to say he was not fit to walk on one nor enter the other)

          3. One cannot honor the Heavenly Father unless they honor their earthly parents

     C. That Our Days May Be Long On The Earth

          1. Lengthen

          2. Draw out

          3. To continue long

          4. To make long (tent cords)

          5. To prolong (days)

NOTE: The long days may have to do as much as with a full life as simply a long life

CONCLUSION

WHEN WE ARE RIGHT WITH OUR PARENTS WE:

I. MUST HONOR THEM

II. MUST ACKNOWLEDGE THEM

III. MUST BE AWARE OF THE CONSEQUENCES

CALEB

THE MAN WHO WANTED TO SERVE GOD

Numbers 13-14

INTRODUCTION

Years ago John Masefield of England wrote an award winning poem, ‘The Hollow Man.’ The poem dealt with the futility of life.

No matter what is done or accomplished, ultimately we are hollow. The Hollow Man was a very pessimistic poem that reflected the personal experiences of the poet. That it also reflected the experiences of many other people is seen in its popularity even in literary circles today.

But an interesting thing happened shortly after this poem was published. John Masefield got saved. The emptiness was filled.

There is an emptiness that cannot be filled except by salvation. And once we are saved, there is an emptiness that cannot be filled except we are faithful in serving God.

Caleb was a person who was filled with God. But he was also a frustrated person because others blocked his desires to serve God to the fullest. Some would have given up and said, Forget it. “I’ll never serve God again, if that is the way they feel about it”.

But not Caleb. Caleb’s name means ‘slave’. Caleb’s life shows us that no matter what others say or do we want to repeat Joshua’s declaration, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

We must also remember Canaan is not heaven as the beautiful songs say. Canaan is the battleground of the Christian life. There are no battles in heaven.

In this spiritual battleground is found a land flowing with milk and honey and clusters of grapes that are so huge that it takes two men to carry one cluster.

THEME: WE SERVE THE LORD:

I. WHEN WE SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO MINISTER         13:1-25

     A. Ministry Is Necessary At The Critical Points In Our Lives

          1. Israel was on the boundary of the Promised Land

          2. The decisions to be made determined the future of the next generation

     B. They Showed The Desirability Of The Land

          1. Two men needed to carry a bunch of grapes

          2. A land flowing with milk and honey

T.S. WE SERVE THE LORD:

          I. WHEN WE SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO MINISTER

II. WHEN WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN US IN MINISTRY        13:26-30

     A. We Have The Opportunity To Witness To:

          1. Those who lead us

NOTE: No man is an island  John Donne

               a. Spiritual leaders and mentors

               b. Government leaders

               c. Boss on job

          2. God’s people (all the congregation of the children of Israel

     B. We Can Show The Fruit Of The Land God Has For Us

          1. Souls God lets us win

          2. Fruit of the Spirit

NOTE: Don’t tell me you have fruit, show me

     C. Up To This The Phrase, “A Land Flowing With Milk And Honey,” Has Always Been Coupled With The Promise God Would Give The Land And Its Inhabitants

          1. The spies question this testimony of God

          2. The other nations are seen as insurmountable obstacles to victory

T.S. WE SERVE THE LORD:

          I. WHEN WE SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO MINISTER

         II. WHEN WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN US IN MINISTRY

III. WHEN WE ARE HINDERED BY THE LACK OF FAITH IN OTHERS 13:31-14:10

     A. Because They Feared “The People”

NOTE:  Fear of man brings a snare

          1. The people are stronger than we 13:31

NOTE: But not stronger than the Lord

          2. The people are giants

     B. Because They Feared Their Own Ability Before God

          1. They brought up an evil report

          2. The land eats up the inhabitants thereof

          3. We are as grasshoppers

               a. In our own sight

               b. In their sight

NOTE: But what about God’s sight?

NOTE: Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us         Romans 8:37

     C. Because “Everybody” Became Discouraged

NOTE: At the heart of this issue is: Will God’s people believe His word?

          1. Everybody cried

          2. Everybody wept that night

          3. Everybody murmured against Moses and against Aaron

               a. Had Moses and Aaron known what was in the land?            (No)

               b. Had Moses and Aaron moved those people there?           (No)

          4. Everybody wanted to die 14:2

               a. The joy of a funeral in Egypt    vs. 2,4

NOTE: It was better making bricks under Pharaoh than trusting the word of Jehovah

               b. The joy of a funeral in the Wilderness

NOTE: Is it possible that, having done so much, God would forsake them now?

     D. Because The Grapes On The Ground Became An Aggravation Instead Of An Incentive

NOTE: In this backslidden condition it would have been better for them never to see the riches God had for them

     E. Because They Would Not Listen To The Truth       14:7-9

          1. It is an exceeding good land         14:2a

          2. The Lord will give it to us   14:2b

NOTE: The Lord had not brought His people out of Egypt to fail them at the last

NOTE: God will move the balance of power from them to His people

          3. The Lord is with us 14:9

NOTE: … and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen       Matthew 28:20

     F. Because Of The Difference Between Them And God      14:10

          1. They wanted to stone the faithful

NOTE: The faithful’s fault

          2. The contrast:            the glory of the Lord appeared in the tabernacle

               a. Before all of them

               b. To speak to Moses, not them vs. 11

NOTE: But My servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed me fully, him will I bring into the land where into he went; and his seed shall possess it    Numbers 14:24 cf. Deuteronomy 1:32-36

NOTE: Only Caleb and Joshua are there; the bones of the rest lie in the desert, bleached by the sun cf. spiritually dead; Numbers 14:36-37

CONCLUSION

WE SERVE THE LORD:

I. WHEN WE SEEK OUT OPPORTUNITIES TO MINISTER

II. WHEN WE ENCOURAGE OTHERS TO JOIN US IN MINISTRY

III. WHEN WE ARE HINDERED BY THE LACK OF FAITH IN OTHERS

THE RESULTS OF SIN

Numbers 21:4-9

INTRODUCTION

We all have probably seen the sign that says, “Plan Ahead.” The last letter, d, has been crowded down in the corner of the sign. That sign is a reminder to all of us that we have done some stupid, some dumb, some silly things.

There are many examples:

We didn’t plan ahead, so we are late getting somewhere, so we are congratulated by the officer with the radar gun.

We didn’t plan ahead and buy some gas. We walk the last mile.

We didn’t plan ahead. We impulsively bought things (with no payment until January!). Then there was something we really needed and couldn’t afford to buy it.

But the same thing applies to sin.  We all have been guilty of not planning ahead to avoid the pitfalls of sin.  We don’t plan ahead for the payments of grief, hurt, shame and pain of sin.

When we charge something, that bill, without fail, finds its way to our mailbox. Likewise, when we sin, the bill of sin will find us and stare us in the face.

That’s what happened to Israel. They forgot that this life was a journey to God’s place for them, the land of Canaan. They did not plan ahead. They so tragically forgot what happens when payment comes due for their sin.

THEME: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN?

I. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE BECOME DISCOURAGED IN OUR SOUL   21:4

     A. It Was Not An Easy Journey

          1. The 6th month – one of the hottest times of the year

          2. A barren way

               a. Stony, sandy

               b. Mountains on each side

               c. Sand storms

     B. They Were Blocked By Relatives

NOTE: Edom (Esau’s descendants vs. Jacob’s)

          1. To compass the land of Edom

          2. No encouragement from Edom

     C. God Wasn’t Leading Them Right

          1. They had to go away from Canaan

          2. The way was uphill and hard

T.S. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN?

          I. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE BECOME DISCOURAGED IN OUR SOUL

II. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE BLAME THE WRONG PEOPLE          21:5

NOTE: A heart discouraged and an angry mind are Satan’s grand opportunities

     A. We Blame God

          1. Adam blamed God – This woman you gave me     Genesis 3:12

          2. Naomi blamed God – The Almighty has dealt bitterly with me  Ruth 1:20

     B. We Blame God’s Man

          1. Moses was only following God’s orders cf. pillar of cloud and fire

          2. Moses only repeated God’s message   Exodus 4:12

     C. We Blame Our Circumstances

          1. No longer in the “safety” of the world

          2. No longer depending on the world’s supply

               a. Bread

               b. Water

          3. Tired of God’s provision

               a. Our soul loathes this light (miserable) bread

               b. They spoke with contempt toward what God gave them

NOTE: This is the last recorded occasion that Israel grumbled about their food, cf. 11:4ff; Exodus 16

NOTE: Though they were 40 years and six months into the Wilderness Journey, Egypt seemed closer than Canaan (Leeks and onions smell stronger than milk and honey)

T.S. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN?

          I. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE BECOME DISCOURAGED IN OUR SOUL

         II. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE BLAME THE WRONG PEOPLE

III. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE PAY FOR OUR SINS    21:6

NOTE: Expensive restaurant – Order most expensive  lobster dinner. Eat one bite. Try to leave. Must pay full price    James 2:10

     A. The Lord Sent Fiery Serpents

          1. No record that Moses sent them

          2. Moses did not help the Lord

NOTE: Romans 12:19

     B. Fiery Serpents (Two Meanings)

          1. Brilliant metallic luster

NOTE: When God brings vengeance, He doesn’t do it in a corner

          2. Burning pain caused by the bite

     C. Some Paid For Their Sin With Their Life

T.S. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN?

          I. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE BECOME DISCOURAGED IN OUR SOUL

         II. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE BLAME THE WRONG PEOPLE

        III. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE PAY FOR OUR SIN

IV. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE HAVE TO REPENT GOD’S WAY      21:7-9

     A. We Should Ask For The Help Of God’s Man        vs. 7

          1. This is the only time Israel asked for Moses’ intercession

          2. Pharaoh asked several times and never in vain

NOTE: Punishment causes people to reflect. They know who talks to God.

     B. They Were Willing To Name Their Sins      vs. 7

          1. We have sinned

          2. We have spoken against the Lord

          3. We have spoken against you

NOTE: Without comment, Moses prayed

     C. We Must Do What God Says         21:8-9

          1. Moses set the brass serpent for all to see          vs. 8, 9.

          2. Everyone who looked, lived         vs. 8, 9.

NOTE: Instead of looking for a tourniquet

               a. It does not say the serpents were taken away

               b. It does not say that they were relieved of all pain and suffering from their bites

NOTE: A cure for those bitten, not protection against bites. John 3:16 – not perish, have … life.

          3. Everyone who did not look, died

NOTE: Adam sinned with his eyes opened. We must se the truth to be saved.

               a. The brass serpent did not kill them

               b. They were dying because of their sins

     D. We Must Look To God’s “Serpent” – Jesus

          1. The only example that Jesus used of His crucifixion was the serpent  John 3:14, 15

          2. The brass serpent had no poison

               a. Without sin

               b. No guile (deceit) was found in His mouth

          3. In the presence of the One on the cross there is:

               a. Death

               b. Knowledge

               c. Power

               d. Life

NOTE: In all of the Old Testament sacrifices the one receiving the benefit had to touch the sacrifice (laying on of their hands)

It is impossible to touch that one lifted up. Just look to Jesus. Just look.

NOTE: 21:10 – And the children of Israel set forward

CONCLUSION

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN?

I. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE BECOME DISCOURAGED IN OUR SOUL

II. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE BLAME THE WRONG PEOPLE

III. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE PAY FOR OUR SIN

IV. WHEN WE BEGIN TO SIN WE HAVE TO REPENT GOD’S WAY

INTRODUCTION

The Ten Commandments

INTRODUCTION

And Moses and the priests the Levites spake unto all Israel, saying, Take heed, and hearken, O Israel; this day thou art become the people of the LORD thy God.

Thou shalt therefore obey the voice of the LORD thy God, and do his commandments and his statutes, which I command thee this day.

Deuteronomy 27:9-10

The whole reason we study and accept the Ten Commandments is because we are the people of God. These commandments are the sum total of what is needed to be the people of God. And a terrible truth is learned: we cannot keep these commandments. But Another One can keep them for us – The Lord.

THEME: WHEN WE ACCEPT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THERE WILL BE:

I. OBEDIENCE

     A. The Duty Which God Requires Of Us Is Obedience

          1. Obedience is a part of the honor we owe God  Malachi 1:6

          2. Obedience without knowledge is blind; knowledge without obedience is lame

NOTE:   And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry …

I Samuel 15:22-23

          3. God looks for obedience  Jeremiah 7:22

          4. The purpose of God giving His laws is obedience       Leviticus 18:4

     B. The Rule Of Obedience – The Written Word          Psalm 119

     C. The Ingredients In Our Obedience That Makes It Acceptable

          1. It must be free and cheerful           Isaiah 1:19; Deuteronomy 16:10

NOTE: Cain brought a sacrifice, but his heart was not right      Genesis 4:5

               a. Willingness is the soul of obedience

               b. Cheerfulness shows that there is love in duty

          2. Obedience must be devout and fervent Romans 12:11

               a. Obedience without fervency is like a sacrifice without a fire

               b. Fervency makes obedience acceptable        II Kings 1:10

          3. Obedience must be extensive – it must reach to all God’s commands

NOTE: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Matthew 23:23

          4. It must be sincere   I Corinthians 10:31

          5. It must be through Christ   Ephesians 1:6

          6. It must be constant Psalm 106:3; Revelation 2:26, 28; Philippians 2:8

     D. Knowing Their Duty, Why We Do Not Obey God

          1. We have a lack of faith       Isaiah 53:1

          2. We have a lack of self-denial

               a. God commands one thing; our lusts command another

               b. If lust cannot be denied, God cannot be obeyed

     E. Incentives To Obedience

          1. Obedience makes us precious to God   Exodus 19:5

          2. Nothing is lost in obedience

               a. Blessings materially      Deuteronomy 28:1, 3, 5

               b. Blessings spiritually       Jeremiah 7:23

          3. The awfulness of the sin of disobedience           I Corinthians 10:22

               a. It is destructive   II Thessalonians 1:7, 8; Luke 12:47

               b. It breaks our fellowship with God

               c. It breaks our fellowship with each other

T.S. WHEN WE ACCEPT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THERE WILL BE:

          I. OBEDIENCE

     II. LOVE

     A. The Sum Of The Ten Commandments

          1. To love the Lord our God Deuteronomy 6:5

          2. Love is the queen of graces, the soul of our faith

          3. Love is what constitutes a real Christian

     B. How Our Love To God Is To Be

          1. It must be sincere – with all our heart

          2. We must love Him for Himself

               a. Some “love” Him for the things He gives

               b. We can never love Him as much as He deserves

          3. Our love must be active    I Thessalonians 1:3

NOTE: Mary Magdalene loved Him, and poured the ointment on Him

          4. Our love for Him must be above all else

NOTE: He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  Matthew 10:37

          5. It must be constant – well rooted   Ephesians 3:17

     C. The Visible Signs Of Our Love To God

          1. Our desire will be with Him            Isaiah 26:8; Psalm 42:2

          2. We cannot find contentment in anything without Him

NOTE: We can do without health, but not without God  Psalm 43:5

          3. We will hate that which would separate between us and God Psalm 119:128

          4. We will possess sympathy          Psalm 119:136

          5. We will labor to make Him lovely to others         Song of Solomon 5:11

          6. We will weep bitterly in His absence      John 20:13

          7. We will be willing to do for Him and suffer for Him         I Corinthians 13:7; II Timothy 4:6

     D. What We Can Do To Love God More

          1. Listen to the preaching of the Word

NOTE: Faith comes by hearing – so does love

          2. Beg of God that He will give a heart to us so will love Him

NOTE: As Solomon asked for wisdom, so must we ask for love           I Kings 3:10

          3. If we love Him, we will keep the flame bright      Revelation 2:4

T.S. WHEN WE ACCEPT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THERE WILL BE:

          I. OBEDIENCE

         II. LOVE

III. THE RIGHT DESIRE TO KNOW THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

     A. The Preface To The Ten Commandments

          1. And God spake all these words, saying,

I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

Exodus 20:1-2

          2. God spoke through His prophets at times but here He spoke in person       Luke 1:70

          a. God the Law Giver – “God spake”

NOTE: Two things required of a law giver

          a. Wisdom       Job 9:4; I Timothy 1:17

               1) Laws are founded upon reason

               2) He must be wise who makes laws

          b. Authority

               1) God has supreme power in His hand

               2) He gives being to all

               3) He gives to us our lives

               4) He has most right to give us our laws

               b. The Law itself

                    1) It is called “The moral Law” because it is the rule of life and manners

                    2) It is perfect    Psalm 19:7

                    3) God has honored the Ten Commandments as no other writing

NOTE: He wrote them with His own finger          Exodus 31:18

          3. We see in it God’s goodness

               a. He has not left us without a law            Nehemiah 9:13

               b. It demonstrates His love          Psalm 147:20

               c. It is the hedge that keeps us within the bounds of self-restraint and godliness

          4. The Law is a star leading us to Christ

          5. The Law saves not, but sanctifies (sets us apart)

          6. If God spake these words

               a. We must hear all His words

               b. We must listen to them with reverence           Exodus 3:5-6

               c. We must remember them       Deuteronomy 32:47

               d. We must believe them            Matthew 28:7

               e. We must love the commandments

               f. We must teach them to our children     Deuteronomy 6:6-7; 11:19

               g. We must obey them    I Samuel 15:22

NOTE: Psalm 119:166 – Not, “I have done all I should do;” but “wherein my obedience comes short, I look to the perfect righteousness and obedience of Christ and hope for pardon through His blood.”

     B. The Difference Between The Ten Commandments And The Gospel

          1. The Law requires that we worship God as our Creator – the Gospel that we worship Him in and through Christ

               a. Out of Christ we see God’s power, justice and holiness

               b. In Christ we see His mercy displayed

          2. The Law requires obedience but gives no strength – the Gospel gives strength

               a. Bestows faith on the believer

               b. Sweetens the Law

               c. Enables us serve God with delight

          3. The Law shows us our sin and brings us to Christ          Galatians 3:24

          4. The Ten Commandments And The Believer

NOTE: In some sense the Law is abolished to the Believer

               a. In respect to justification

NOTE: If the Ten Commandments could justify, why Christ’s death?

               b. In respect to its curse

NOTE: Believers are freed from its curse    Galatians 3:13

     C. Rules For Understanding The Ten Commandments

          1. The commands and prohibitions reach the heart

               a. They require not only outward actions, but inward affections

               b. They require not only the outward acts of obedience, but the inward affection of love     Deuteronomy 6:5

               c. The Law not only forbids the act of sin, but the desire to sin            Matthew 5:28; Romans 7:7

          2. In The Ten Commandments more is intended than is spoken

               a. Where duty is commanded, the contrary sin is forbidden

NOTE: Honor thy father and mother – do not dishonor them

               b. Where sin is forbidden, the contrary duty is commanded

NOTE: Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain – we shall revere His name

          3. Where sin is forbidden, the occasion of it is also forbidden

NOTE: Where adultery is forbidden, all that may lead to it is also forbidden

          4. Where one relation is named in the commandment, there another relation is included

               a. Where the duty of the children to parents is mentioned, the duty to parents is also is included

               b. The child is to honor the parent – the parent is to instruct, love and provide for the child

          5. Where the greater sins are forbidden, lesser sins are also forbidden

               a. No sin in its own nature is “little”

               b. Where idolatry is forbidden, superstition is forbidden

          6. The law of God is entire

               a. Duty to both God and our neighbor is included

               b. To omit either is wrong  Matthew 23:23

          7. The Law forbids not only committing the sin, but also being an accessory to sin

               a. By decreeing unrighteous decrees     II Samuel 12:9

               b. By not hindering them when it is in our power to do so        I Samuel 3:13-14

               c. By encouraging or provoking others to sin     II Samuel 16:21; Habakkuk 2:15

               d. By consenting to the sins of others     Acts 8:1

               e. By example

NOTE: There are hereditary diseases and hereditary sins

          8. Though we cannot by our own strength fulfil all the commandments, yet doing what we are able, the Lord has provided encouragement for us

               a. God has promised to work in us that which He requires       Ezekiel 37:27; Isaiah 27:12

               b. When God sees faith, we passes the failing

NOTE: The gospel removes the severity of the Law

               c. When our personal obedience falls short, God will accept us in our Surety           Ephesians 1:6

NOTE: The very service which God’s law might condemn,

His mercy is pleased to crown,

By virtue of the blood of our Mediator

Thomas Watson

CONCLUSION

WHEN WE ACCEPT THE TEN COMMANDMENTS, THERE WILL BE:

I. OBEDIENCE

II. LOVE

III. THE RIGHT DESIRE TO KNOW THE TEN COMMANDMENTS