Preparing for Easter
“The Passover”
Exodus 12:21-30 & Luke 22:7-20
A number of years ago my late wife & I were travelling from Europe back to Hong Kong. We had a brief 3-day stop-over in Istanbul in Turkey. As we drove from the airport into the city at several points along the way we saw crowds of people gathered around watching men slaughtering sheep. The men killed the sheep with a big knife & then skinned them. There was a lot of blood around. The taxi driver explained that we had arrived on the first day of the festival of Kurban or Eid – the Festival of Sacrifice. It was the very day every Muslim home offered a sacrifice. That night each family roasted & ate the meat of their sacrificial lamb.
Muslims in China, ethnic groups like the Uygur & the Hui, also celebrate this festival. The origins of this Muslim festival can be traced to the Bible. In Genesis in the Old Testament there is a famous story of how God provided a ram for Abraham so that he didn't have to sacrifice his own son Isaac. That ram died as a sacrifice in the place of Isaac. Of course for the Jewish people this was a very important event. For Christians, we believe it points very clearly to our Saviour the Lord Jesus. That ram which God provided for Abraham was a fore-shadowing, a type, an illustration pointing forward to Jesus. In the Bible Jesus is called “…the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. (John 1:29) He is the Lamb of God who takes our place, who dies instead of us.
Well there is another similar but even more important festival celebrated by the Jews. It is called Passover. It also involved the killing of a lamb. And Christians believe that the Passover lamb also points forward to Jesus. When Jesus was on earth, & the Temple was still standing in Jerusalem, the highlight of the Festival of Passover was the sacrificing of the paschal or sacrificial lamb. Each family also sacrificed a lamb which was then roasted & eaten with unleavened bread. Unleavened bread has no yeast in it. Even today Jewish people celebrate Passover although they no longer kill sacrificial lambs. They eat unleavened bread & roast lamb cooked with bitter herbs, & they drink wine.
Now, why is the Feast of Passover so important? Do Christians celebrate it & if so how & why? These are some of the questions we will think about today.
Indeed Christians do celebrate Passover. It is one of our most holy festivals, except we normally do not call it Passover. Instead we call it by the name Good Friday. It was during the Jewish festival of Passover that Jesus was crucified on the cross – on Good Friday. It is all part of Easter for following on from Good Friday is Resurrection Sunday. Next weekend we celebrate Christian Easter.
Let us look at what the Bible tells us about this important festival & why it is so important. We find the story in the second book of the Bible, the book of Exodus. The Jewish people had been living in Egypt for over 400 years. By this time they had become slaves & were suffering terrible oppression under the iron-fist of their Egyptian slave masters & the Egyptian king Pharaoh. God called Moses to lead his people out of Egypt - but Moses had a major problem. Pharaoh & his officials were in no mood to allow God's people to leave. After all, the Egyptian economy depended upon the slave labour provided by the Hebrews. Even when God used Moses to perform signs & wonders in front of Pharaoh he would not change his mind. Then God sent terrible plagues on the land but Pharaoh simply hardened his heart. He refused to listen to God. Even today God gives people many opportunities to turn away from their sin. He gives us signs & sometimes even performs miracles. And when we experience tragedy & hardship in life – God is there to help us if only we will see our need, humble ourselves & turn to Him. But no, like Pharaoh, we refuse to listen.
Well, the tenth & final plague was about to fall. It was going to be the worst plague of all. God said that the firstborn of every family in Egypt would die. The angel of death would go through the whole land. No one would be spared. “Every firstborn son in Egypt will die, from the firstborn son of Pharaoh, who sits on the throne, to the firstborn son of the slave girl, who is at her hand mill.” (Exodus 11:5) Pharaoh was warned about what would happen but still refused to let God's people go.
God had a plan to spare the Israelites, His people. He would save them from the plague. God told Pharaoh through Moses: “Then you will know that the Lord makes a distinction between Egypt & Israel.” (Exodus 11:7) Dear brothers & sisters, even Egypt & Israel in this story are types, or pictures or shadows of things to come. Of course I am not talking about modern day Egypt or modern day Israel. I am talking about what these two nations represented as types or pictures in the Old Testament. Egypt is a type or a picture of the person who refuses to turn to God, the one who refuses to believe, the one who fights against God. Egypt represents the unbeliever, those who are lost. Israel on the other hand, in this context, is a type or a picture of the people of God. Israel represents the believer. It represents the Church. It represents those who believe the gospel & obey God's Word. It represents those who are delivered from the slavery of sin, those who are saved. My friend – you are one or other of these two today – either Egypt or Israel, either God's enemy or God's friend, either lost or saved. There is indeed a distinction between Egypt & Israel.
God warned that the angel of death would go through the whole land & no firstborn son would be spared. If the Israelites were to be spared they would need to carefully follow God's instructions. We read in Exodus 12:3, the Lord says first of all to Moses: “Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household.” They were to prepare a lamb – one for each family. They could share with neighbours but there must be enough for each person. All were to participate – young & old. Each family was to choose a lamb. Dear friend, if you want to be saved – you too need to choose a lamb. However you cannot choose any lamb. The only One who can take away your sin, the only One who can save you, is the One chosen by God – our Saviour Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. If you choose Him today you will be saved. If you reject Him you will remain in your sin & you will have no hope when the angel of death passes over you. So first of all the Israelites had to choose a lamb.
Secondly, they had to choose a male lamb (or a goat) that was a year old & the lamb was to be without defect. It was to be perfect. We read in v.5, “The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, & you may take them from the sheep or the goats.” A one year old lamb is in its prime. It is healthy & strong. Its meat is tender & tasty. And the lamb to be chosen must be perfect. What a picture we have here of our Lord Jesus! He was in His prime & He was perfect. Only He was good enough. Only He could stand against evil & remain unspoiled. Only He could face temptation & remain pure. Only He could close hell & open heaven. As a verse in an old hymn says: “There was no other good enough To pay the price of sin; He only could unlock the gate Of heaven, & let us in.”
Thirdly, after having killed the lamb, God told them to do something very strange. We read in v.7, “Then they are to take some of the blood & put it on the sides & tops of the doorframes of the houses where they eat the lambs.” Blood from each lamb was to be applied to the top & the two sides of the front door of each house. It must have been a gruesome sight – blood painted over the door way. Why did they have to do this? We see the reason in v.13. God says, “The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are, & when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt.”
Many of you are familiar with the custom at Chinese New Year of pasting strips of red paper called “chun lian”on the two sides of the front door of a home. Matching phrases or couplets, usually with “lucky” words, are written on these red strips. The character for happiness or blessing is often pasted on the door or above it. The idea of putting up these “chun lian” on red paper is to keep out evil & welcome good in the New Year. Chinese Christians often also put up “chun lian” but put Scriptural verses on them instead. Non-Christians may hope that the red paper & lucky words will keep evil out of their home in the New Year but in fact it is only the blood of Jesus that can protect us from fear & evil. Only the blood of Jesus can bring us blessing & salvation.
When the angel of death passed over Egypt that night, there was either death or salvation in each home. When the angel saw blood on the doorposts he passed over that house. The blood was a sign. It was a mark distinguishing God's people from those who were not His people. The blood was a covering & those under the blood were safe. It was their protection. The Lord said, “…when I see the blood, I will pass over you.” The Hebrew for “you” is in the singular, not the plural. The plural form would refer to all the people of Israel but here the emphasis is on each individual being covered by the blood & each individual being saved. We cannot rely upon our background or our race or our position in the church. Each person individually must believe & must obey.
All this is a powerful picture of the gospel. Those who come to Jesus the Lamb of God & apply His blood to their own lives will be saved. What Jesus did on the Cross, shedding His precious blood for us, brings us deliverance from the penalty of sin which is death. Jesus is the only One to whom we can run for safety from judgment. Only if the blood of Jesus has been applied to us are we safe from the righteous judgment of God. Do you have the mark of the blood on your life? Do not delay. Come to Jesus today. Ask Him to wash away your sin in His precious blood. As the old hymn asks, “What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus; What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow; No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.”
The Apostle Peter speaks of the precious blood of Jesus. In 1 Peter 1:18 & 19 we read, “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver & gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect.”
Some people think that speaking of the blood of Jesus is gruesome. However the Bible makes clear that without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. A price has to be paid. All through the Old Testament, the sacrifice of animals was important but it was just a picture pointing forward to the only truly effective sacrifice - the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God. The blood of Jesus is indeed precious. It is powerful to save. Satan is afraid when we speak of the blood of Jesus for he knows it means the total defeat of all his evil schemes. Have you applied the blood of Jesus to the door frames of your life? Are you safe under the cover of His sacrifice for you?
Fourthly notice, after applying the blood to the door posts, the people had to roast the sacrificial lamb. We read in v.8, “That same night they are to eat the meat roasted over the fire, along with bitter herbs, & bread made without yeast.” Roasting over the fire perhaps is a picture for us of the agony Jesus endured on the Cross. He tasted the fires of hell for us. Because of His suffering we are spared the suffering we deserve. Because he died, we can live. And it was a bitter death He died. Eating the Passover meal with the bitter herbs would remind God's people of the bitterness of suffering from which they were spared. It was also to help them remember the need to be sorry for sin, to show true repentance. To experience God's forgiveness we need to come in true bitterness of soul, in heart-felt repentance.
Yeast is what makes bread rise. It takes time but just a tiny amount of yeast eventually spreads through a whole lump of dough. At the time of the first Passover, God's people did not have time to make bread the normal way – with yeast. So they ate bread without yeast. However, in the Bible yeast is also used as a picture of sin. Even a little sin can affect the whole body. Secret sins in the life of a believer can have a devastating effect. So Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 5:7 & 8, “For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice & wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity & truth.”
Sixthly & finally, they were to eat the Passover meal in a hurry. They were not to delay. Look at v.11, “This is how you are to eat it: with your cloak tucked into your belt, your sandals on your feet & your staff in your hand. Eat it in haste; it is the LORD's Passover.” The reason they were to eat in a hurry was that they had to be ready to move.
The angel of death struck at midnight. Very soon after that when the Egyptians discovered that all their first-born sons lay dead, there was great wailing throughout the land. Pharaoh finally allowed the Israelites to leave Egypt. In fact he wanted them to go right away. There could be no delay. Perhaps there is a picture here of how we are to live as Christians. We must be ready to move. Like the person waiting for the start of the race. He is ready to take off as soon as the gun sounds. We must be ready to follow our Lord in service. We must also be ready for His return. He could come at any time. The Lord could also call us at any time. As the 19thcentury Anglican preacher Henry Law puts it, “He is a foolish servant who has to seek the key when his Lord knocks. … When death comes, have nothing to do, but just to die.”
I heard about the famous British preacher Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones who at 82 was nearing the end of his life. He seemed to sense the Lord was calling him home. He made sure all his affairs were in order. He even cancelled his morning newspaper from a certain date. He died on Sunday March 1st. 1981 – the very day after which his last newspaper had been delivered. Very few of us will have any idea as to when we might die but whenever it is we need to be ready. Even if we are young & think we have lots of time. In fact we don't. None of us knows the minute or the hour. We must be ready.
Yes, dear friend, only if you belong to Jesus will you be ready. Only if His blood has been applied to the doorposts of your heart, will you be unafraid to die. The covering of His blood is our only security for living & for dying.
God told the Israelites to always remember their deliverance from Egypt. They were to celebrate the Feast of Passover every year. At Easter we as Christians also remember the sacrifice of Jesus the Lamb of God. But we also remember His sacrifice very time we meet for communion around the Lord's Table. In the passage we read from Luke 22, which describes what happened at Passover time in Jerusalem the night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus says to His disciples, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfilment in the kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15 & 16) It was right after this that Jesus led His disciples in the very first communion. “He took the bread, gave thanks & broke it, & gave it to them saying, 'This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.'” Jesus was the fulfilment of Passover. He was the Lamb of God who gave Himself for us, to die in our place. Then we read, “In the same way, after the supper He took the cup saying, 'This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.'” (Luke 22:20)
Not only once a year at Easter but whenever we celebrate communion, we are remembering what Jesus did for us in dying for us on the Cross. We do not have to fear the angel of death for Jesus our sacrificial Lamb has died in our place. He is of course alive again & He lives for evermore. Let us give thanks. Let us bow before Him in praise & adoration.
What's on your face? Facial expressions reveal a lot of things. There is a story of a couple of prospectors who struck gold. They had go get to town get more supplies. They agreed not to tell anyone. But by the time they left a large group of prospectors were following them. “I thought we agreed not to tell anybody?” said one of them. “Honestly, I did not,” replied the other. Then someone from the group said, “You need not tell us, it showed on your faces.”
When you stop to think about it, the look on our faces sometimes really does tell it all. Some people's faces you can read like a book. For instance was there ever a time when your parents took one look at you and asked, "What did you do? You look guilty." Other times people will say, "You look like you've seen a ghost!" My mother looked her daughter and asked, "I'd recognize that look anywhere. What's his name?" Or “What's bordering you?”
Sometimes our expressions reveal things we would rather not reveal--irritation, anger, hate, plain old meanness. How will people remember the daily ordinary look on your face--stressed, irritated, pouting, angry--always smiling, radiant, at peace?" What does your face communicate to others about your faith? What's on you face?
READ 34:28-35 As we have read, Moses was completely oblivious to the look on his face--the shine--the radiance – the glow. Moses didn't put on a pious religious face. He wasn't trying to look "holy." The genuine glow was there because he had been in the presence of God. It just rubbed off on him. How did he acquire it?
FROM 2ND HAND FAITH TO PERSONAL FAITH
Today's scripture reading takes place on Moses' second trip to the mountain where he spent 40 days and nights with God writing out The Ten Commandments again. This was a defining moment for Moses. Let me explain. In Exodus chapter 3 God appeared to Moses in a burning bush that did not burnt. God's mere presence in a desert bush was enough to sanctify the patch of ground around it, and God told Moses to take off his shoes because he was on holy ground.
However here in Exodus chapter 34, this mere meeting in the Lord's presence was enough to change Moses' look. He had been so touched on the inside that there was evidence of it on the outside. His face was shining and glowing with the glory of God. Now, the Bible tells us this radiant face of Moses took place at the 2nd giving of the law, not the first. Strange, isn't it. I would have thought it would have occurred at the burning bush, or at the first giving of the Law. But it didn't. I asked myself, “Why would Moses change now?
You see, at the Burning bush, Moses was a very reluctant messenger. He gave all sorts of excuses and tried to get out of what God is calling him to do. Then, when he stood before Pharaoh, he was following orders. God's orders. As he led the people in the first days of their desert trip Moses was always asking "What am I to do?" (x2) Up this point, this whole thing wasn't his idea. It was all God's.
It's common that kids from Christian homes, who go off to college, often lose their faith or shaken. At college, they find themselves in an entirely new world that challenges. Why would that happen? Often, it's because the faith they lose wasn't theirs. It was their parent's faith. These children had gone along with the morals and believes that ruled their home while they were at home. But once they moved away, since the faith wasn't theirs to begin with, they lose it. In order to survive, they need to change from the faith of their fathers (and mothers) to a faith of their own. Their second hand faith need to become a personal faith. For Moses, something like that had taken place. It was no more a second hand faith but now a personal one.
Exodus 32:19-20 tells us when that change took place: "When Moses approached the camp and saw the calf and the dancing, his anger burned and he threw the tablets out of his hands, breaking them to pieces at the foot of the mountain. And he took the calf they had made and burned it in the fire; then he ground it to powder, scattered it on the water and made the Israelites drink it. He said to Aaron, 'What did these people do to you, that you led them into such great sin?'" (Ex. 32:19-21)
Here, you see that no one told Moses to smash the tablets. No one told him to melt down the idol and grind it to powder. No one told him to spread it's powder on the drinking water and force the people to drink it. This was all Moses' idea. And then Moses turns on Aaron. Up until this time Aaron had been Moses' "mouthpiece." Ever since the burning bush, Aaron had been Moses' support in his faith. But, no longer. Moses had learned he couldn't lean on Aaron's faith... and for the first time in their relationship, Moses rebuked his older brother and put him in his place. After this confrontation, we see Moses really begin to care for the people. He interceding for the people and his offer to substitute himself for the people to avert God's anger.
When Moses came down the mountain with the new tablets, "he was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord" (Ex. 34:29). He had a shine on his face. When the people saw the glow on Moses' face. They were afraid to come near him. They backed away from him like he was "radioactive." Even Aaron, his brother, was afraid as well. Moses downplayed the radiant glow he had because he didn't want them to focus on it. He didn't want people to focus on him and call attention to himself. Rather the Scripture says he "put a veil over his face" (v. 33).
Moses wanted them to focus on God--not on the glow. Sometimes when God does something spectacular for us, we tend to focus on the experience rather than on God who did it. Sometimes it causes us to lose our focus. It is so natural we begin to think too much of our experience and become a little self righteous and arrogant. Moses however wanted the people to focus on the Lord instead of his face.
FROM FAKE TO REAL
What could a mysterious event on the top of a mountain far away and long ago possibly have to do with us today? Is Moses' experience in the presence of God a totally foreign concept to us today? I don't think so. Here's why. God wants his children to be "real." Very often much of what is happening in our Churches and in the lives of God's people is a put-on or "fake." It is more "show" than anything else.
There is a story of an overnight visitor to the White House during the Coolidge administration. Calvin Coolidge was not one of the warmest people to be around - he was well known for his brevity and taciturn nature. Seated at breakfast with President, the visitor determined to attempt to be as "invisible" as possible by imitating everything the President did and thus avoiding any possible digressions of etiquette. All went well, until Coolidge began to catch on. Reaching for his coffee, the President poured some of it into his saucer... the visitor followed suit. Then Coolidge reached for the cream and poured a generous amount into the saucer... the visitor did the same. Then Coolidge bent down and placed the saucer on the floor for his cat.
There is a difference between those who merely get by - who copy, imitate, and fake it - AND those who are "real" or authentic about what they believe and do. Moses had changed from an attitude of "getting by" to one of "getting real". The children of Israel were special people chosen by God to be a blessing to the world. They witnessed God's amazing miracles in Egypt to bring about their freedom from pharaoh. There is the miraculous parting of the Red Sea where they pass through and escaped pharaoh's army. Then there was the manna, the bread from heaven. And all through the journey not one could miss the presence of God leading them through the pillar of cloud and pillar of fire. Who would not have been impressed with shaking mountains and fire at the giving of the law!
After all the excitement things seems too settled down. Everybody went about his or her daily chores and routine. Things got familiar. Now that, Moses had been gone for forty days. The people got "bored" with their trembling mountain. So the people decided to do something about it. They thought, why don't we put on a show. They decided to make a golden calf so that they could have a worship party. Very soon Aaron put on a good religious show for the people. How exciting!
You know what is the big difference between Aaron and Moses. Aaron had a show, but Moses had a glow. Aaron put on the show because this is what the people want. But Moses had glowed because he was having communion with God. He was hearing and receiving God's Word. It would be great if we have a choir to lead us in praise and worship before the throne of grace. I have seen some powerful dramas presented during service. I have heard of solos that lifted my heart in worship to the Lord. I have seen some creative arts in services. We applaud great music and drama. We are not against having a great "show" in the Church house, but we are against it if our show has corrupted the gospel. We need to asked continually, Are we just putting on a "show” or are we real? Doing what is closed to God's heart.
The psalmist says, “Be still, and know that I am God.” This is the familiar injunction in Psalm 46:11, but very often in church there is no stillness, no time in which to know Him. We can get very mechanical in our worship and find "comfort zones" where we don't have to pray and study and seek God's direction anymore. Ministry can and does become ROUTINE. We just kind of go through the motions. If that happens, we have succeeded in putting on a show.
Why are we here?… Worship. This word is used 331 times in the Bible. From Genesis, the first book of the Bible, to Revelation, the last book, we are called to worship. Worship is the theme of this book. Worship is the all consuming subject of the Bible. Here I would like to raise the question, “What should you expect when you come to worship celebration on Sunday?” I believe, first and foremost worship should bring you into the presence of God. Worship is about moving into the God's presence. There is a special glow about the people who have been in the presence of God. When you prepare your heart and come reverently seeking the Lord, He honors that. When we lift our voices together in song and listen to His Word is an invite for Him come into midst. When the Word of God is faithfully preached, it brings the glow to our Church!
As I understand Scripture, wherever Christ is honored, and the Word is faithfully preached, the presence of God is there, and that is a big and important place. Worship should take us into God's presence. That will make us glow. What a privilege and experience that is for all of us.
FROM PURPOSE DRIVEN TO PRESENCE DRIVEN
14 The LORD replied, "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." 15 Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. 16 How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?" 17 And the LORD said to Moses, "I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name."
Some of you may have read the book “The Purpose Driven Church” by Rick Warren. It is a wonderful book about what we as a church is about and how to be purposeful in our ways. This word PURPOSE-DRIVEN keeps coming pack in the book again and again. In John 4:34 our Lord says that, “My meat is to do the will of the Father who sent me.” His “MEAT” was His “PURPOSE!” As we understand he came to save us. So His purpose in life gave him the reason to live and die. Similar for all of us, a “PURPOSE” will give us a reason to live and a reason to die!
The other thing we read from the gospel is the amount of time our Lord spent in God's presence. He rose early to be with the Father. He was before the Father before major decisions were being made. And there is this overwhelming sense of the Spirit's presence as He went about His whole business. As I was thinking I've began to realize that although being “PURPOSE DRIVEN” is essential and has it's place, BUT being “PRESENCE DRIVEN” would seem even more important in the life of every Christian.
From the verses we have read, it seems, Moses has moved from focusing on bring the Israelites to the Promised Land to being focused on God. He was so in tune with the Lord, and so connected to the Lord that he begged Him “If your presence does not go with us, do not send us from here.” He refused to take any action apart from God. He was basically saying, If you won't go with us, then just kill us and end it here. Moses was not willing to take another step or move to any other place apart from the Lord's presence and provision. In Moses we find a “presence driven man”! He was so “presence driven” that he would not move or do a thing without the presence of the Lord with Him.
A purpose in life alone is not enough in the Spirit realm. Moses knew what his purpose was but he wanted something far greater than a purpose he wanted a presence. You see, The presence of God outweighs the purpose of God. For without the “presence” the “purpose” is of little use.
Again, anybody can have a purpose but not everybody has a presence! There are Christians who know the Bible, they know the purpose of God, they could quote it chapter & verse but they had no understanding or know of the presence of God! Remember when the Magi were looking for directions to the baby Jesus. The teachers of the law could tell them exactly where to find. But sadly they have no understanding about the presence of God. As good as purpose driven is, but without the presence then the purpose loses it's point! For instance…
God's purpose is that no one go to hell, but it's not the purpose that saves it is the presence of God that saves! God's purpose is to heal but it's not the purpose that heals it is the presence of God that heals! God's purpose is to deliver mankind but it's not the purpose that delivers mankind it is the presence of God that delivers mankind. We need to seek His presence more than His purpose! Because when I have His presence the purpose will follow in place! His purpose will find the place when I have His presence. Moses knew it was the presence of God that separated them from all the others on the face of the planet! He knew it was the presence of God that made all the difference and nothing else would matter! For it is in His presence that we find all we need in life & more.
We often wonder why it's so hard to push and get people into ministry and God's work. The reason being, the purpose of God was never met to be pushed. It is to be pulled along by the presence of God. You see without the presence of God we try to do it by sheer force of our flesh. It is interesting that the priest had to wear linen undergarments when they go into the Holy place. Why? So that they do not sweat. If we are working to the point of sweating in the work of God, it is because we are depending on our own strength to serve. Instead we are to trust in the strength of Jesus Christ who indwells us. God's plan is that those who serve Him should never sweat!
Moses couldn't drive those people! These were the hardest bunch of hardheads and stiff-necks on the planet. They had to be lead by the presence of God. What was it that guided the people of God! It was a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night! That wasn't anything that Moses could do on his own! IT WAS GOD! What did that pillar of cloud and fire represent! It represented the presence of God. The presence of God day in and day out! What was it that governed the people of God? It was the commandments given in the presence of God. What was it that fed the people of God! It was manna from heaven. It provided by the presence of God. Who was it that clothed them? It was the presence of God. Their clothes or shoes never wore out! All the while the presence of God was leading them.
Purpose is good. Purpose is needed but without the presence then purpose is all you have. When has purpose ever directed you and fed you? NEVER! But God always has in His presence. Remember, purpose failed the Children of Israel just as they were to enter the Promised Land! They knew their purpose was to have the Promised Land, but they didn't realize that it is the presence of God that will bring that to fulfillment. It was His presence that would make all the difference! You see, having God's Presence in and about your life will cause dramatic changes in you! You'll be more concerned about what you do from moment to moment, because you are in God's presence.
You'll want to do what is right in the eyes of God because you are in God's presence! You'll see things and people differently because you are in the presence of God. You'll treat you spouse par excellence because you are in the presence of God. You'll raise up you children right because you are in God's presence. You'll honour your parents and care for them to the utmost because you are in God's presence.
There will be a boldness and also humbleness about you because you are in God's presence! Then in church, What is it that changes the dynamics of any service? IT IS THE PRESENCE OF GOD! It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will “DRAW” people! It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will bring “REVIVAL!” It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will “PROVIDE” for us! It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will “FILL” the SS Classes! It is the “PRESENCE OF GOD!” that will “BUILD” a Youth Group!
If you seek His purpose it sounds good but without His presence his purpose means little! For it is with “HIS PRESENCE” His Purpose is accomplished! Let me ask you this question! Are you purpose driven or are you presence driven? What do you seek? Do we seek His PURPOSE or His PRESENCE? However, one of the biggest problems in the church today is that people want a deep relationship with God but don't want to pay the price for it. Developing an intimate relationship with God takes time and effort. It doesn't happen overnight. The late John R. W. Stott once admitted the truth that many of us have felt but failed to confess: "The thing I know will give me the deepest joy -- namely, to be alone and unhurried in the presence of God, aware of His presence, my heart open to worship Him -- is often the thing I least want to do." I know that being in God's presence is what's best for me but I confess that it's “often the thing I least want to.”
The next question here is “How badly do we want the presence of God?” Each and every person in this church could and not only could but should tap into that very presence of God and walk in His presence. This morning, the only thing holding you and me back from a deeper experience with God is ourselves. God wants us to know Him more and experience more of His presence.
An encounter with God has results. "…they saw that his face was radiant.”(Ex. 34:35). That radiant look comes to us when we, too, spend time with God. Each time we are with God we will be changed a little more. It just happens. It's a work of God over a period of time. It might be inconvenient at times. His dealings in our life might be uncomfortable. Maybe, even painful. All our sufferings and trials is a way in which the Spirit is cracking our being open so that God's shine may get through. Are we allowing God's Spirit more freedom to effect changes in our life?
When we spend time in the presence of God, we come out changed. Our behavior will change. Our attitude will change. Our speech will change. Our giving will change. Our lives change! When we do get that presence of God, I believe this church, your life, your family, your homes will never be the same. It will be the beginning of something that is “EXCITING & DYNAMIC & LIFE CHANGING” 1.) We will Look different. 2.) We will Love different. 3.) We will Live different.
Let's purpose in our heart to spend more time seeking His presence. Expect change to come. Expect to hear from heaven. Expect something good to happen to you.
CONCLUSION
What does your face say? What's on your face? It is said that Abraham Lincoln, when he was President of the U.S., was advised to include a certain man in his cabinet. When he refused he was asked why he would not accept him. “I don't like his face,” the President replied. “But the poor man isn't responsible for his face,” responded his advocate. “Every man over forty is responsible for his face” countered Lincoln. We are responsible for what's written on our face. Does our face radiates the joy and peace of the Lord. Or does it display the cares and burdens of this life? If we'll only come to God He'll anoint us with fresh oil and if we'll let him he'll fill us with his glorious presence to reach our family, friends and neighbors with the life changing message of Jesus Christ.
“In the Beginning – lessons from Genesis 1”
Genesis 1:1-5, 24-27
A 10-year old girl asked her father, “Where do humans come from?” Her father replied, “God made Adam & Eve & they had children & then grandchildren, & so on.” Two days later the girl asked her mother the same question, “Where do humans come from?” Her mother answered, “Many years ago there were monkeys from which humans evolved.” The little girl was now confused, so she went back to her father & said, “Dad how is it possible – you told me humans were created by God, & Mom said we evolved from monkeys?” Her father replied, “Well, dear, it is very simple. I told you about my side of the family & your mother told you about her side of the family.”
Actually, this joke may sound silly, but the question the little girl asked is a very important question. It is a question that people have asked all through human history – “Where do we come from?” Some people choose not to believe in God or in a Creator & they comfort themselves by believing instead that we are all the result of the blind forces of evolution. Actually for them the theory of evolution becomes like a god. If they want an explanation for anything – they just say it is the result of the forces of evolution.
Famous Oxford Professor C.S. Lewis, who was an atheist before he became a Christian, came to regard evolution as not just a theory but a “myth”. For Lewis it was impossible to believe that such a complex universe came about by aimless, blind chance & that “against the hostility of nature & without purposeful direction or design” life somehow moves “... from the amoeba up to the reptile, up to the mammal.” Finally, by another “millionth, millionth chance” man appears. Lewis came to regard evolution as being illogical with no scientific basis. Lewis wonders how we can trust what our minds tell us if our minds are the product of an irrational, purposeless, blind process.
There are many other important questions, similar to the one we have just been asking. Not only do people ask where we come from – they also ask “What is the purpose or meaning of life?” “Is there a God, & if He exists, what is He like?”
The amazing thing is, these questions & many more are answered in the Bible. In fact in the first few chapters of the Bible we find answers for these & other vital questions.
So today I have two headings. First of all, let us consider:
1. The Existence & the Nature of God (Genesis 1:1-5)
The Bible begins with these words, “In the beginning God created the heavens & the earth.” The Bible never tries to prove the existence of God. It simply tells us that He exists. This does not mean of course that the Bible never presents any evidence for the existence of God. In fact the Bible gives plenty of evidence. However, the Bible begins with a simple statement – “In the beginning God.” The worldview of the Bible begins with God.
The Bible also tells us that God created all things. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens & the earth.” As scientist Professor John Lennox of Oxford University, who is a committed Christian, points out, “This is not only a truth claim about God; it is a truth claim about the physical universe.”[1] The phrase “the heavens & the earth” is a simple way of referring to everything that exists. God made it all. What exists came out of nothing.
Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” What we see, what is visible – in other words, the material universe – was made out of nothing. It was not made out of something that already existed.
What all this means is that God is the ultimate reality, not the material universe. The material universe cannot explain itself, as secular atheists try to claim. For example, Professor Stephen Hawking of Cambridge University has said: “Because there is a law such as gravity, the Universe can & will create itself from nothing.” What we can ask Professor Hawking is: “Where do these laws come from? Who designed & implemented the laws of physics (gravity, etc,)? And who made the material upon which gravity acts?” For example, who made the apple that falls down from the tree?
Another atheist, Richard Dawkins, in his book The God Delusion argues that if God created everything, we would have to ask who created God. But as Professor Lennox points out, “…the very asking of this question reveals that Dawkins has in mind a created God: ‘Who created God?’ Created gods certainly are a delusion.”[2] If a god has to be made in order to exist, then it is not God. It is simply an idol. The fact is the God of the Bible was not created. He created time & space. He is not confined inside of time or space. He is eternal.
The God of the Bible is also distinct & separate from His creation. He is not like the gods of Hinduism, for example, which are part of the universe. Such a view is called pantheism. Pantheism sees God in everything. It believes nothing exists outside of God.
The Bible, as I said, teaches that God is separate from & outside of His creation, not part of it. However, this does not mean that He is a remote God who made everything & then withdrew from the scene, letting what He made continue without Him. The Bible clearly teaches that God continues to uphold the universe & to watch over His creation. And God intervenes in human history. This is the wonderful message of the Bible. God is not far away, unknowable & immovable – like the god of Islam, Allah. The God of the Bible loves us & wants to be in relationship with us. That is why Jesus came – “The Word became flesh [became a human being] & lived among us, full of grace & truth.” (John 1:14) Yes, God can be known. He is not an abstract force. He communicates. He loves.
When we come to Genesis 1:2-4 we learn something more about God. We read, “Now the earth was formless & empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, & the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. 3 And God said, ‘Let there be light,’ & there was light. 4 God saw that the light was good, & He separated the light from the darkness.” The Spirit of God was “hovering over the waters.” The Spirit is involved in creation.
In Genesis 1 we also see that God speaks – “And God said, ‘Let there be light.’” This phrase “And God said” comes at least 9 times in Genesis 1. It comes at each of the different stages in the creation process. This reminds us of what John writes in the beginning of his Gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, & the Word was with God, & the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him.” (John 1:1-3a) So Jesus, the Word, was involved in creation. In Colossians 1:15-17 Paul writes of Jesus being “…the image of the invisible God …For by Him all things were created, in heaven & on earth, visible & invisible …all things were created through Him & for Him.” So Jesus, the Word, was involved in creation.
The Bible teaches us that God is a tri-unity, a fellowship of Father, Son & Holy Spirit. This tri-unity, or to use the Latin word Trinity, is also hinted at in Genesis 1:26 where we read, “Then God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.” God the Father was involved in creation. So was the Spirit, & so was Jesus the Son.
We have been thinking about the existence & the nature of God. Now under one more heading, let us think about:
2. The Purpose & the Nature of Mankind
It is clear from the account of creation in Genesis 1 that God did not make everything at once. There is a sequence marked by the days of creation. The account starts with the words, “In the beginning God created the heavens & the earth.” We are told that “…the earth was formless & empty.” Then God starts to speak. As we saw earlier, each time this phrase “God said” comes it introduces a further step in the process of creation whereby God shapes & fills the earth with plants & then living creatures. The final step is when God creates human beings. Human beings are the pinnacle of God’s creative work. It is only human beings that are said to be formed in God’s image. Clearly human beings are far superior to animals. We are unique & special in God’s creation. We are different to animals. Some of the characteristics that make us so special include: 1. Self-awareness & self-worth; 2. Concerns about death & the after-life; 3. Spiritual awareness & the need to worship; 4. Awareness of right & wrong – conscience; & 5. An ability to think, reason & be creative.
These traits or qualities are found in human beings, but not in animals. Do you think our neighbour’s cat would ever feel guilty about doing its stuff in our garden? Or would it ever ask itself, ‘I wonder where I will go when I die?’ No, only humans think about such things because God has made us special, with moral & spiritual awareness. Every human being has value in God’s sight. And each one of us individually is also unique – with a unique finger print & a unique DNA. We are special & so is Planet Earth.
Genesis not only informs us about the fact the universe was created but it tells us why. The earth was created with the ultimate purpose of being home for human beings. In outlining the basic order of creation, Genesis 1 shows how God was making the earth suitable for human habitation. As Professor Lennox says, “Planet Earth has to be given a certain form – light separated from darkness, dry land from sea, visible lights in the sky, plant life to eat – in order for human life to thrive & function as God intended.” Modern-day science shows how incredibly fine-tuned the universe is. It is “just right” for human habitation.
Nobel Prize-winner for Physics, Arno Penzias says, “Astronomy leads us to a unique event, a universe which was created out of nothing, one with the very delicate balance needed to provide exactly the right conditions required to permit life, & one which has an underlying (one might say ‘supernatural’) plan.” Talking of the incredible fine-tuning in the universe – it is totally impossible for this to be the result of the blind forces of nature, or evolution. If you want to read more about this I recommend John Lennox’s book “God’s Undertaker: Has Science Buried God?” Do not to be afraid of science. Truth is truth. The facts of science are not in conflict with the truth of Scripture. Of course the theories of science & some of our interpretations of Scripture may clash, but, as many Christian scientists affirm, science & biblical faith are friends, not enemies.
As we think about the nature of mankind, there is a very important truth in v.26. It says, “God said, ‘Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness.’” And vrs 27 & 28 continue, “So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male & female He created them. God blessed them & said to them, ‘Be fruitful & increase in number; fill the earth & subdue it.’”
God made us male & female. Men & women are different but we are complementary. One is not better than the other. We are equal in importance & worth, but we are different. This is where marriage comes from – it comes from the very beginning of human history when God made the first man Adam & the first woman, Eve. You can read all about this in Genesis 2. God knew it was not good for man to be alone so He made woman. Marriage is: one man & one woman in a complementary, exclusive & life-long relationship. The Bible tells us this, but so do biology, culture & psychology. Biologically every child has a father & a mother, & all reliable research points to the fact psychologically & sociologically children do best when living in a stable home with both their parents. Of course there are various reasons why some marriages & some families do not enjoy God’s ideal. God knows about this & He cares. And not every man is able to be a father nor is every woman able to bear children. However this does not make them any less a man or a woman.
Jesus Himself affirms the importance of gender & of marriage when He says to the Pharisees, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male & female, & said, ‘Therefore a man shall leave his father & his mother & hold fast to his wife, & the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.” (Matthew 19:4-6)
The Bible tells us that we are unique. We have incredible value. The galaxies are vast beyond measure compared with us. However, we know they exist, but they don’t know that we exist. You are more significant than a galaxy. Why? Because God made you in His image & not only that, He loves you & sent His Son to be your Saviour. Yes, God made you for a purpose & He made you special. He loves you & has a plan for your life. He wants to be in a relationship with you.
One other thing about mankind, that is explained in Genesis 3, is the fact we are fallen. We have been tainted by sin. Adam & Eve disobeyed God & sin & death came upon mankind as a result of this tragedy. Man’s close relationship with God was broken. But the wonderful message of the Bible is that God in love sent Jesus, the Word involved in creation, to earth as a man. He died on the Cross taking our sins & the punishment we deserved, opening the way for us to come back into relationship with God.
On a cold night, after a hot shower, our bathroom mirror gets misted over. Imagine if my wife Elizabeth came into the bathroom & saw on the mirror the shape of a heart with the letters P & L & E. Would she call me & say, “Peter, come & see this. A heart shape has evolved on the mirror & it has letters P, L & E. Isn’t evolution great!” No, of course not. Immediately she would know someone drew that heart shape & put in the letters in order to get across a message to her. The message was Peter loves Elizabeth.
Dear friends, when you look at the incredible beauty & intricacy of the universe, & when you think of how special you are, I hope you get the message God is trying to get across to you. So, as we close then let me ask you, “Do you know God? Have you discovered the wonderful truth that He loves you & wants to have a relationship with you? Have you met Jesus? Have you discovered His purpose for your life? Is He not just your Creator but also your Saviour?”
If you are able to say “yes” to these questions you will want others also to discover what you have discovered. This is why today we are having a special lunch to welcome those of you who are students & young adults. We want all of you, & everyone else of course, to know about our amazing Creator, to know that He loves you & wants you to respond to His love by making Jesus your Lord & Saviour.