AT MOUNT SINAI (3)
(Message by Tanny Keng)
0. Introduction
a) At Mount Sinai
(Text: Exodus 19:1-25)
1. What is the text all about?
a) God had a reason for rescuing the Israelites from slavery. Now he was ready to tell them what it was: Israel was to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation where anyone could approach God freely. It didn't take long, however, for the people to corrupt God's plan. God then established Aaron's descendants from the tribe of Levi as priests, representing what the entire nation should have been (see Leviticus 8;9). But with the coming of Jesus Christ, God has once again extended his plan to all believers. We are to become holy, a "royal priesthood" (see 1 Peter 2:9). The death and resurrection of Christ has allowed each of us to approach God freely.
@1. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
b) Why did God choose Israel as his nation? God knew that no nation on earth was good enough to deserve to be called his people, his "special treasure." He chose Israel, not because of anything they had done, but in his love and mercy he chose Israel in spite of the wrong the nation had done and would do. Why did he want to have a special nation on earth? To represent his way of life, to teach his Word, and to be an agent of salvation to the world. "All the nations of earth" would be blessed through Abraham's descendants (see Genesis 18:18).
@1. 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. (Genesis 18:18 NIV)
c) Gentiles and kings would come to the Lord through Israel, predicted Isaiah.
@1. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:3 NIV)
d) Through the nation of Israel, the Messiah, God's chosen Son, would be born. God chose one nation and put it through a rigorous training program, so that one day it would be a channel for his blessings to the whole world.
e) In Genesis 15 & 17, God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to make his descendants into a great nation. Now that promise was being realized as God restated his agreement with the Israelite nation, the descendants of Abraham. God promised to bless and care for them. The people promised to obey him. The covenant was thus sealed. But the good intentions of the people quickly wore off. Have you made a commitment to God? How are you holding up your end of the bargain?
f) Moses was told to consecrate the people. This meant getting them physically and spiritually ready to meet God. The people were to set themselves apart from sin and even ordinary daily routine in order to dedicate themselves to God. The act of washing and preparing served to get their minds and hearts ready. When we meet God for worship, we should set aside the cares and preoccupations of everyday life. Use your time of physical preparation to get your mind ready to meet God.
g) "Lest the Lord break out against them," means that the Lord would destroy anyone who was not fully consecrated and ready to meet him.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray for the peace of Israel and God's blessings shall be upon you.
i) 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalms 122:6 KJV)
The End ..
0. Introductiona) At Mount Sinai
(Text: Exodus 19:1-25)
1. What is the text all about?
a) God had a reason for rescuing the Israelites from slavery. Now he was ready to tell them what it was: Israel was to become a kingdom of priests and a holy nation where anyone could approach God freely. It didn't take long, however, for the people to corrupt God's plan. God then established Aaron's descendants from the tribe of Levi as priests, representing what the entire nation should have been (see Leviticus 8;9). But with the coming of Jesus Christ, God has once again extended his plan to all believers. We are to become holy, a "royal priesthood" (see 1 Peter 2:9). The death and resurrection of Christ has allowed each of us to approach God freely.
@1. 9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. (1 Peter 2:9 NIV)
b) Why did God choose Israel as his nation? God knew that no nation on earth was good enough to deserve to be called his people, his "special treasure." He chose Israel, not because of anything they had done, but in his love and mercy he chose Israel in spite of the wrong the nation had done and would do. Why did he want to have a special nation on earth? To represent his way of life, to teach his Word, and to be an agent of salvation to the world. "All the nations of earth" would be blessed through Abraham's descendants (see Genesis 18:18).
@1. 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. (Genesis 18:18 NIV)
c) Gentiles and kings would come to the Lord through Israel, predicted Isaiah.
@1. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:3 NIV)
d) Through the nation of Israel, the Messiah, God's chosen Son, would be born. God chose one nation and put it through a rigorous training program, so that one day it would be a channel for his blessings to the whole world.
e) In Genesis 15 & 17, God made a covenant with Abraham, promising to make his descendants into a great nation. Now that promise was being realized as God restated his agreement with the Israelite nation, the descendants of Abraham. God promised to bless and care for them. The people promised to obey him. The covenant was thus sealed. But the good intentions of the people quickly wore off. Have you made a commitment to God? How are you holding up your end of the bargain?
f) Moses was told to consecrate the people. This meant getting them physically and spiritually ready to meet God. The people were to set themselves apart from sin and even ordinary daily routine in order to dedicate themselves to God. The act of washing and preparing served to get their minds and hearts ready. When we meet God for worship, we should set aside the cares and preoccupations of everyday life. Use your time of physical preparation to get your mind ready to meet God.
g) "Lest the Lord break out against them," means that the Lord would destroy anyone who was not fully consecrated and ready to meet him.
2. Prayer focus
a) Pray for the peace of Israel and God's blessings shall be upon you.
i) 6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. (Psalms 122:6 KJV)
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