Staying Out of Egypt

Transcription

1 Staying Out of Egypt (Sermon Notes) By Warren Zehrung 4/6/ Last Day of Unleavened Bread We begin with the offertory service because God tells us not to appear before Him emptyhanded on His Holy Days. (Exodus 23:15, Deuteronomy 16:16) We are n the first season the spring time of year. For a week now we have not eaten any leavened products. No hot buttered toast though that would have been good with breakfast. Have you said things to yourself - this past week like, How many more days before I can eat toast again? We ve had no sandwiches for lunch though we might be used to that. Have you said things to yourself - this past week like It ll be nice when I can eat a sandwich again? We ve had no raspberry doughnuts though those make a nice treat. Have you said things to yourself - this past week like, A hot biscuit would be really, really good. I never see people eating cake but this week twice I ran up on people eating cake. Leavening was everywhere. One person told me I really like bread. God wants us to miss those muffins, pancakes or whatever this week, because there is a lesson in it. Exodus 13:3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten. Missing those leavened products is a good thing God knows that we depend on them. But as we begin His Sacred year He wants to remind us of the necessity to put on Christ. Exodus 13:6 Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, and in the seventh day shall be a Feast to the LORD. [That is today!] Exodus 13:7 Unleavened bread shall be eaten seven days; and there shall no leavened bread be seen with thee, neither shall there be leaven seen with thee in all thy quarters. This lesson was not only for the Israelites leaving Egypt, it is for every generation especially for converted Christians today. Exodus 13:8 And thou shall show thy son in that day, saying, This is done because of that which the LORD did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. Exodus 13:9 And [eating unleavened bread,] shall be for a sign unto thee upon thine hand, and for a memorial between thine eyes, that the LORD'S law may be in thy mouth: for with a strong hand hath the LORD brought thee out of Egypt. We thank God that He has delivered us from Egyptian bondage and Sin. 1Corinthians 5:8 Therefore let us keep the Feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. And so, we give thanks as we pray: Matthew 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread of Sincerity and Truth. And while we take up the offering we will have special music taken from Psalm 114 When Israel Out of Egypt Went

2 --Offering-- The complete title of today s sermon is: Staying Out of Egypt as we Head for the Promised Land God worked a lot of powerful miracles and went to a lot of trouble to bring us out of Egypt we certainly should not want to go back. When Jesus came to this earth He also worked a lot of powerful miracles, and went to a lot of trouble to bring us out of sin we certainly should not want to go back. But there is a pull we had all better recognize it. And that pull to sin is a lot more powerful than that pull we ve been feeling for delicious bread. These Days of Unleavened Bread picture our deliverance from sin and its consequences. Baptism also pictures turning our back on sin. In today s Holy Day Sermon, on this Last Day of Unleavened Bread, we ll be looking at how we can stay out of sin And the answer is that we do not march out of sin on our own we must be taken out delivered and led out by Jesus Christ. God is very serious about this matter. Exodus 12:15 Seven days shall ye eat unleavened bread; even the first day ye shall put away leaven out of your houses: for whosoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul shall be cut off from Israel. Exodus 12:16 And in the first day there shall be an holy convocation, and in the seventh day there shall be an holy convocation to you; [TODAY] no manner of work shall be done in them, save that which every man must eat, that only may be done of you. Exodus 12:17 And ye shall observe the Feast of unleavened bread; [WHY are we doing this?] for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance forever. That is why we are keeping this LDUB some 3500 years later there is something of tremendous importance we are to gather from this Feast observance. Exodus 12:18 In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at even, ye shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at even. [the 21st day is today] Notice how serious God is about us keeping His Feast Days. Exodus 12:19 Seven days shall there be no leaven found in your houses: for whosoever eats that which is leavened [regular bread], even that soul shall be cut off from the congregation of Israel, whether he be a stranger, or born in the land. Exodus 12:20 Ye shall eat nothing leavened; in all your habitations shall ye eat unleavened bread. Unleavened bread pictures the Body of Christ. Jesus has to lead us, we can t escape out of sin by our own power, and we have not attained to the perfection of Christ far from it! 2

3 Israel had not arrived in the Promised Land on the day they left Egypt they had a long, long way to go and a long time getting there. We are to Go on to Perfection, it is the seventh doctrine of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection. We, too, were trapped in the bondage of sin our own Egypt. We, too, could not escape sin and death, by our own power. These days of Unleavened Bread are still about Jesus dying for us, and being raised alive so that we could be out of sin not in sin! 1Corinthians 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us: The sea and cloud that were salvation to Israel were death and destruction to Egypt. We have been considering how God delivered Israel from their bondage in Egypt. Forty years later a second generation of Israelites heard a reiteration of what their parents had experienced. Deuteronomy 26:6 And the Egyptians evil entreated us, and afflicted us, and laid upon us hard bondage: Deuteronomy 26:7 And when we cried unto the LORD God of our fathers, the LORD heard our voice, and looked on our affliction, and our labor, and our oppression: It was really bad in Egypt. It is really bad to be in sin it is lethal. Deuteronomy 26:8 And the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terribleness, and with miracles, signs, and with wonders: It is now 40 years later and the young Israelites are on the border of the Promised Land just across the Jordan River. Deuteronomy 26:9 And he hath brought us into this place, and hath given us this land, even a land that flows with milk and honey. Deuteronomy 26:10 And now, behold, I have brought the firstfruits of the land, which thou, O LORD, hast given me. And thou shalt set it before the LORD thy God, and worship before the LORD thy God: That is what God s people are observing, and rehearsing right now the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread (picturing Israel coming out of Egypt) and the Old Testament Lamb (symbolizing the New Testament Lamb of God Jesus the Christ King of Salem. Let s go back to the Day that Israel walked free 40 years before: Exodus 14:19 The angel of God, [That was Jesus Christ] which went before the camp of Israel, removed and went behind them; and the pillar of the cloud went from before their face, and stood behind them: 3

4 Exodus 14:20 And it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel; and it was a cloud and darkness to them, but it gave light by night to these: so that the one came not near the other all the night. Exodus 14:21 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the LORD caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. Exodus 14:22 And the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea upon the dry ground: and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Exodus 14:23 And the Egyptians pursued, and went in after them to the midst of the sea, even all Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen. Exodus 14:24 And it came to pass, that in the morning watch the LORD looked unto the host of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, and troubled the host of the Egyptians, Exodus 14:25 And took off their chariot wheels, that they drove them heavily: so that the Egyptians said, Let us flee from the face of Israel; for the LORD fighteth for them against the Egyptians. Exodus 14:26 And the LORD said unto Moses, Stretch out thine hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen. Exodus 14:27 And Moses stretched forth his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to his strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it; and the LORD overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. Exodus 14:28 And the waters returned, and covered the chariots, and the horsemen, and all the host of Pharaoh that came into the sea after them; there remained not so much as one of them. Exodus 14:29 But the children of Israel walked upon dry land in the midst of the sea; and the waters were a wall unto them on their right hand, and on their left. Exodus 14:30 Thus the LORD saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore. Exodus 14:31 And Israel saw that great work which the LORD did upon the Egyptians: and the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD, and his servant Moses. Free at last Can you imagine the rejoicing and elation of being set free of Egypt? Everyone was saying, We re headed for the Promise Land. Brethren, that is where we are in our Christian journey - We re headed for the Promise Land. But God knows our frame He knows our weaknesses and proclivities. That is why today the Last Day of Unleavened Bread is a memorial we are to remember God says. But, exactly one month after escaping Egypt Israel was complaining: Exodus 16:2 And the whole congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness: 4

5 Exodus 16:3 And the children of Israel said unto them, Would to God we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the flesh pots, and when we did eat bread to the full; for ye have brought us forth into this wilderness, to kill this whole assembly with hunger. The strange thing to us is that Israel quickly wanted to return to Egypt. Why did they murmur that way? It was because they were spiritually bankrupt. They didn t count the cost but brethren, we counted the cost of becoming Christians. (Luke 14:28) We know how hard it is to come out of Satan s world and lay our lives down as Jesus did. But we do it because we have our eye on the goal. Paul tells us how he left everything behind to follow Jesus: Philippians 3:8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, Paul left it all behind his friends, his job, his politics, his reputation, his family, his future Philippians 3:9 And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: That is the righteousness of Jesus that is imputed to us. The question is not what we ve lost by coming out of the world but what we stand to gain with eternal life in Christ. Philippians 3:10 That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death; Philippians 3:11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. We see Paul Striving Toward the Goal because he had not yet arrived: Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained [God s righteousness and Kingdom], either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Paul is saying that with all his might he is grabbing hold of his desire to be perfect as Jesus is and Paul adds just as Jesus has grabbed hold of me. Jesus brought me out of Egypt He brought me out of sin I can t go back He has plans for me and will not let go of me. Philippians 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, Philippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Paul warns us: Look at how Israel perished in the wilderness - don't let it happen to you. Israel wanted to return to Egypt. They wanted to go back into sin where they were supposedly so comfortable. Paul is telling the New Testament Church that death awaits you if you turn back. How much more motivation could there possible be to stay out of sin. 5

6 Brethren we are talking about: Staying Out of Egypt as we Head for the Promised Land. 1Corinthians 10:1 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 1Corinthians 10:2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 1Corinthians 10:3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 1Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. Brethren, that is exactly where we are right now. We ve just taken Passover - eating the same spiritual food Christ s body, and drinking the same spiritual drink the blood of Christ. We are being told not to take God s deliverance for granted. We have not yet arrived in the Kingdom. The Spring Holy Days show only the beginning of the Plan of God. We have not attained there unto we have not arrived Paul says. 1Corinthians 10:5 But with many of [those Israelites] God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Three million Israelites died in the wilderness they did not make it. Why is Paul telling us this? 1Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 1Corinthians 10:7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 1Corinthians 10:8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 1Corinthians 10:9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 1Corinthians 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. 1Corinthians 10:11 Now all these things happened unto them for examples to us: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 1Corinthians 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 1Corinthians 10:13 There has no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Jesus is faithful not to abandon us we will make it if we strive to do so. Make no mistake about it brethren, we must fight A Christian s Battle all the while knowing that we are spiritually protected. Ephesians 6:10 My brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 6

7 Paul gives us the picture of a Knight in shining armor except that we are shielded spiritually. Ephesians 6:11 Put on the whole protective covering of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Our battle is now spiritual in nature it is not the people of this world but the false god they serve. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:13-14 Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand stand: therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; The truth will set you free, and the righteousness of Christ will be imputed to us. Ephesians 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. Ephesians 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; We put on Christ because this is Satan s world and it is a dangerous place. 1Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon Him; for he cares for you. 1Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: Satan always gets what he goes after unless we rely on Jesus Christ to deliver us from the evil one (Matthew 6:13). Luke 11:4 It says, deliver us from the evil, but it means to rescue us from Satan s devices. Therefore, many kinds of temptations will be thrown at you all through life. You must successfully resist them. They will often come when you least expect them. The devil will try to strike you where you are weakest most vulnerable least prepared. You must be on guard ready! Do not assume that you are stronger or more prepared than you think. James 4:7 James also instructed us, Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. We do not find our way to God by remaining Just as I am. My very character must be changed. God is calling us out of sin! 7

8 Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait/narrow gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leads to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Matthew 7:14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leads unto life, and few there be that find it. We are New Covenant Christians with Christ in us we are not morally and spiritually bankrupt. Every thought, action and deed of a New Testament Christian is supposed to be must be in accordance with Christ being in us. We can t let down all the time like the world does. We must keep our guard up as Jesus continuously did if we don t want to go back into Egypt back into sin. What is God s Spirit yielding in our lives? What fruit is God s Spirit producing in us. Is our interaction with the world a matter of showing them that we are Children of the Kingdom? It must be! We are to be a light to the world. Do we actually wish for them to know the Gospel truth and be a part of God s Kingdom? Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, [that is not passive but actively caring if others will make it to God s Kingdom] joy, [do we realize that God s will is being done and working for His good?] peace, [are we confrontational or peaceable] longsuffering, [do we patiently give others a chance?] gentleness, [how do we compare to Christ s gentleness?] goodness, faith, Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. We understand how destructive sin is. A Christian is an over-comer. Revelation 3:12 Him that overcomes will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, A Christian is one who overcomes the temptations of this world his weaknesses, sins and wrong attitudes and habits. The Israelites came through the Red Sea. Paul equated that deliverance from sin to the baptism of a new Christian. Repentance means a premeditated, conscious change of mind, heart and direction. It means to go the other way not back into Egypt. That day of our repentance, baptism, and forgiveness and becoming Children of God It was undoubtedly the most important day of our lives! Because we professed our faith in Jesus and His work of salvation for us Coming up out of his watery grave (see Romans 6:3-11), a new Christian, forgiven of sin, is clean and ready to receive God's Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands (Acts 8:17). Their entire life is then a clean slate. The Egyptians would never again be able to afflict Israel in any way, as God had washed away and destroyed what had enslaved them. They were clean and free! But Israel wanted to return to Egypt! 8

9 Would they have expected Jesus to send more plagues on Egypt and kill their second born? It s preposterous and ridiculous. But that is what a Christian is doing if he thinks he can continue in sin. God is not going to send His firstborn Son Jesus to die for us a second time. Jesus has covered our sin - how can we tarnish a clean plate? There is no more sacrifice for sin. Hebrews 10:26 For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins, Hebrews 10:27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries. Hebrews 10:28 He that despised Moses' law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: Hebrews 10:29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace? Romans 12:2 Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, [We positively promise to sin no more and walk with Christ ] that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Paul speaks of Gifts of Grace how God has selected us before everyone else. Romans 12:3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. 9

10 Romans 8 is The Holy Spirit Chapter We are considering today: Staying Out of Egypt as we Head for the Promised Land. Romans 8:13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of son-ship, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 1John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God not adopted but by God s Spirit. Romans 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Romans 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Romans 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. Romans 8:38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Romans 8:39 Nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. Few realize it today in these Laodicean times but Christianity is still about being our brother s keeper. Do we love the brethren? God so loved the world John 3:16 God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Protestants know that verse do we? God is so serious about sin - we become guilt simply by knowing about it - that is - if we do not address it and do our utmost to solve it. Leviticus 5:1 And if a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness, whether he hath seen or known of it; if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity. This verse is telling us that if we know of wrong-doing and do nothing about it we are as the guilty party and shall bear his iniquity. James 5:20 Let him know, that he which converts the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins. Galatians 6:1-2 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. Let s say that a minister is abusing one of the brethren. And another minister finds out about it and yet does nothing because he wants to stay in good with the boys at headquarters 10

11 God says that that minister that closed his eyes to the situation is just as guilty as the perpetrator then he shall bear his iniquity. Ministers abuse the brethren and seemingly get away with it. But God knows about it and so do many other ministers who wash their hands of the matter. But God says that He will hold those, who only know what is going on as though they were the perpetrators themselves. James tells us to admit our fault and sin. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Another deterrent to returning to sin is the knowledge of how short time is - and the day of reckoning coming: Christ is going to come at a time when most of the world is busily doing its normal day to day activities. Matthew 24:36-39 But of that day and hour no one knows, no, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. (Luke 17:26-27) Matthew 24:42, 44 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Let s close with these encouraging words from our Savior: Jesus said: John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. End: Staying Out of Egypt 11