Where God Commands His Blessing

(Sermon Outline)

1)      Today we are continuing our series on the book of exodus

a)      This series is about reconnecting with our heritage:

i)        If we look at the “birth of the modern” – at figures like Milton, Hobbes and Locke in England, and the founding fathers of America – the book with which they were in dialogue was not Plato or Aristotle but the Hebrew Bible. Hobbes quotes it 657 times in The Leviathan alone. Long before the Greek philosophers, and far more profoundly, at Mount Sinai the concept of a free society was born.[1]

(1)   Filling the world with the word of God!

ii)      The leadership we need today!

b)      Exodus is about the birth of a nation – God’s plan from the beginning

i)        It is the key to the rebirth of our nation.

ii)      1776 – a vision of what to build vs. 1789 a vision of what to destroy

c)      Remembering the sabbath – connecting the two tables – Seek first the Kingdom of God!

i)        That surely is the enduring power of the book of Exodus. It is utopian in its aspirations. It envisages a society that will be the opposite of Egypt, in which justice prevails, human life is held sacred, and every individual has equal dignity as the image and covenant-partner of God. But it is a realistic utopia.[2]

ii)      It is about love, mercy, compassion and real life.

2)      The two leaders of the Exodus – Moses and Aaron

a)      Psalm 133:1–3 (NKJV) — 1 (A) Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity! 2 (C) It is like the precious oil upon the head, Running down on the beard, The beard of Aaron, Running down on the edge of his garments. 3 (B) It is like the dew of Hermon, Descending upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.

i)        (Go through the psalm)

b)      History of Brothers in scripture:

c)      There is an identifiable pattern to this set of narratives, best seen in the way each ends. The story of Cain and Abel ends with murder – fratricide. Isaac and Ishmael, though they grow up apart, are seen together at Abraham’s funeral. Evidently there had been a reconciliation between them, though this can only be read between the lines (and spelled out in midrash), not directly in the text. Jacob and Esau meet, embrace and go their separate ways. Joseph and his brothers are reconciled and live together in peace, Joseph providing them with food, land, and protection.[3]

3)      Moses and Aaron are examples of where God commands the blessing

a)      God told Moses that Aaron would rejoice to see him.

b)      Reasons you would not expect this to be the case

c)      They function as one in scripture

d)      Even more striking is the grammatical oddity of the phrase. Both times, the third person singular is used. Literally, they read: “He was Aaron and Moses,” “He was Moses and Aaron.” The text should have said, “They” – all the more so since the pronoun “they” is used in the middle of the passage: “They were the ones who spoke to Pharaoh.”… The unmistakable implication is that they were like a single individual; they were as one.[4]

e)      KINGDOM MINDED PEOPLE

4)      Many members with different gifts functioning as one.

a)      Moses and Aaron exemplify this

b)      Exodus 4:27 (NKJV) — 27 And the Lord said to Aaron, “Go into the wilderness to meet Moses.” So he went and met him on the mountain of God, and kissed him.

c)      (From the midrash), based on the verse in Psalms (85:11) “Loving-kindness and truth meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.” Loving-kindness – this refers to Aaron. Truth – this refers to Moses. Righteousness – this refers to Moses. Peace – this refers to Aaron.[6][5]

d)      Moses and Aaron were quite different in temperament and role. Moses was the man of truth, Aaron of peace. Without truth, there can be no vision to inspire a nation. But without internal peace, there is no nation to inspire. Aaron and Moses were both necessary. Their roles were in creative tension. Yet they worked side by side, each respecting the distinctive gift of the other.[6]

5)      United in mission and vision to not only bring people out of bondage but into liberty

a)      The great commission – make disciples of Jesus

b)      Delivered from bondage into liberty to corruption – raise up mature sons of God

c)      Mark 3:24–25 (NKJV) — 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand.

d)      Revive the church, transform the nation

e)      Moses & Aaron – Mt. Hermon and Mt. Zion –

f)       The Holy Spirit

6)      That we may be one!

a)      Proverbs 6:16–19 (NKJV) — 16 These six things the Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17 A proud look, A lying tongue, Hands that shed innocent blood, 18 A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that are swift in running to evil, 19 A false witness who speaks lies, And one who sows discord among brethren.

b)      Loving and forgiving

c)      Grace and patience

d)     “This shouldn’t happen in church”

e)      Authentic relationships

f)       Transformation takes time

7)      The type of church we want to be

a)      Unity – A church where God commands the blessing!

b)      Structuring for maturity

c)      Team

d)      Expectation & how people respond

e)      Discerning and guarding life

f)       A culture of hunger, faith and expectation – prayer

8)      What I am seeing at Life Springs Church

a)      Authenticity

b)      Team

c)      Relationships

9)      How we need to respond individually

a)      Personal discipleship

b)      Personal ministry

c)      Guarding the spirit and unity of the church

d)      How we relate to others in the church

e)      How we relate to those outside the church

f)       Walking in the light

g)      Pressing for the upward call

h)      There is no problem that can’t be solved personally or nationally

i)        As though Jesus is present in the flesh

j)        A people united where God commands His blessing 

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