Holy Matrimony - Part 2 (24 mb)

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This is the ninth sermon in a series on the Ten Commandments. This message discusses the seventh commandment regarding adultery. The sermon was given in two parts. This is part two.

Written Excerpts:

Exodus 20:14   Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Introduction:

If you were here last week you know that we didn’t finish our discussion on the seventh commandment regarding adultery. So, we are continuing that discussion today with the help of God’s Spirit. We mentioned the fact that the commandment, “Thou shalt not commit adultery,” really teaches us the principle that marriage is sacred and holy in the sight of God. That is the reason I chose the title that I did… Holy Matrimony.

Last week we were talking about the kinds of things that are an assault or an attack on the sacredness of marriage and thus would be a violation of the basic principle of this commandment. There were three ways that the sacredness of marriage is violated that we covered last Sunday:

1. Any sexual infidelity of a spouse.

2. All other sexual conduct outside the proper bounds of marriage, which is defined in the Bible as one man and one woman.

3. Emotional bonding and fantasies of the mind that do not include physical intimacy.

Let’s continue our look at the things that violate the sanctity or sacredness of marriage.

4. Divorce and remarriage, as defined in the Bible, violates the sacredness of marriage.

Now I can imagine many of you sending mental messages to me right about now to leave this topic alone and “don’t touch it with a ten-foot pole.” I certainly acknowledge that this has been a controversial topic in church life for years, and it probably will continue to be. However, I don’t believe that the appropriate response is to ignore the issue. If it was important enough for Jesus and the Apostle Paul to speak on, then it’s important enough for us to address it.

Divorce is another plague in America. For years now we have heard the statistic that 50% of marriages end in divorce. (Although I read very recently some encouraging facts about that statistic.) The rate of divorce for couples who regularly attend church is about 30%.

Our culture tells us that divorce is the answer to a host of marital problems. Just get out of the marriage and start over again. But, anyone who has ever had to go through a divorce can tell us that there is so much heartache and pain involved with divorce. In some respects, it can be worse than a death.

I know that I don’t have many answers to the questions people have raised about divorce and remarriage. But I know at least two things:

(1) Divorce isn’t the unpardonable sin. God’s grace is able to forgive all the sins of the past whether that includes divorce, adultery or any other transgression of God’s will.

(2) It is absolutely vital that we let our young people know that God intended marriage to be a life-long commitment between one woman and one man. In Matthew 19, when he was asked about the issue of divorce, Jesus replied with the words, “In the beginning it was not so.” He was simply explaining the fact that God’s original design and purpose for marriage was that it be permanent.

 

To all the young people who are here today, I would say to you, do not even approach marriage in the future with the idea that you can quit and start over again if you don’t get it right the first time.

Now, I recognize that fact that there are scores of people who are innocent victims of divorce. They not only entered their marriage with the intention of staying married for life, but they fought hard to keep their marriage intact. However, there were circumstances beyond their control, and their marriage ended against their own desires and efforts. Nevertheless, I re-emphasize my point to our youth. Marriage, as God designed it, is a life-long, permanent commitment. Don’t plan for failure!

This is where all the adults need to say, “Amen!”

D. God’s Remedy: A message of hope and healing.

One of the problems that has developed in the church today, is that far too many people have been so discouraged by the attitudes of others in the church that they just give up hope for a better future.

Let me tell you, dear friends, the church is supposed to be a place of hope and healing. This is supposed to be a “hospital for the spiritually sick and injured.” If we don’t have anything but condemnation to offer, then we might as well close our doors! 

What is the message of hope and healing?

1. God’s forgiving grace goes deeper than the stain of sin.

As I stated before, divorce is not the unpardonable sin, and neither is adultery, fornication or any other sexual sin. The Bible is clear about the grace of God and the forgiveness that is available to anyone and everyone who truly repents and seeks a new life in Christ.

Come now and let us reason together saith the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet they shall be white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Isaiah 1:18

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

2. God’s delivering grace is stronger than any temptation or bondage.

1 Cor. 10:13 There hath 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.

1 Cor. 6:11 And such were some of you, but you are washed, …sanctified, …justified.

3. God healing grace mends and restores the broken.

Isaiah 61:1-3 “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn, To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 65:17-18 “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind. ¹⁸But be ye glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

After describing judgment and suffering that would come because of their sin, God describes the new creation that would result in rejoicing and joy.

There are innumerable stories of individuals who had completely messed up their lives by their disobedience to God’s commands, but after turning their lives over to the Lord and growing in his grace day-by-day, they have experienced a wonderful rebirth of joy and happiness in life.

If God can create the original universe out of nothing, and create a new heavens and a new earth, then He is certainly able to create beauty from ashes. He is able to renew and restore lives that have been broken and scarred by the consequences of sinful choices.

Conclusion:

As we close this message, I urge all of us to have a renewed commitment to God’s law, and a renewed commitment to “holy matrimony.” I have tried to present a picture that realistically addresses a major problem in our society without being too negative. There are a lot of people in our world who are faithful and true to the Lord and their spouse. I even read a recent statistic in the news stating that the number of youth who are making the decision to save sexual intimacy until they are married has risen by a couple of percentage points in the last year or so.

There are signs for hope.

Let us close our service today by standing together and singing the hymn: "Trust and Obey."

You know, that is the best advice that I can give to anyone who has questions about how to live out this commandment in this modern age.

I know that the standards of the Bible and God’s will are considered “out-of-date” and irrelevant for these days. But I challenge you that if you will just TRUST GOD and OBEY His Word, you will never regret it.

 

 

Next sermon in this series is: What's Mine Is Mine (link available in blog archive on right)

Holy Matrimony - Part 1 (31mb)

(To download an mp3 file of this sermon, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is the eighth sermon in a series on the Ten Commandments. The message discusses the seventh commandment regarding adultery. The entire sermon was given in two parts. This is part one.

Written Excerpts:

Exodus 20:14   Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Introduction:

Today we are resuming our discussion of the Ten Commandments, and will be taking a look at the seventh commandment, which reads: Thou shalt not commit adultery.

I think I might as well let you know right up front that we probably won’t have time to get through this entire message today, so I’ll have to conclude next week. In case I don’t get a chance to finish today, I should mention that the end of this message includes some vital words of hope and healing for all those caught up in various moral situations that are forbidden by this commandment. So, please be sure to come back for the good news if we don’t have time to get to it today.

In the NKJ translation that was read earlier from Proverbs 5, the woman is described as an “immoral woman.” In the KJV she is called a “strange woman.” In some other modern translations, she is called “an adulteress.” They all mean the same thing.

 

I believe that the breakdown of the home and the destruction of the sanctity of marriage has produced a host of moral and social disasters in our culture that we despair of ever being able to correct in this life. In fact, I am firmly convinced that there is no possible remedy without a major spiritual awakening followed by a revival of biblical values. 
 

A. Negative Meaning: Do not have physical relations with another person’s spouse.

The Hebrew word for adultery in this commandment applies to the physical relations between a man and another man’s wife or between a woman and another woman’s husband. The biblical understanding of this term included those who were “betrothed” (engaged), as well as those who were married, because eastern culture viewed betrothal just as binding as marriage.

B. Positive Principle: The marriage relationship is sacred.

The positive principle behind this commandment advocates the sanctity of marriage. God has ordained marriage as a sacred relationship between a husband and a wife. As such, it is to be honored and guarded from all enemies that would seek to destroy the sacredness of the union.

C. Exposition: How the sanctity of marriage is violated.

There are a number of ways that the sancitity of marriage is violated or assaulted. Let us look at some of those ways.

1. (Most obvious) Any sexual infidelity of a spouse is a direct violation of the sanctity of marriage.

We are living in a day when affairs and infidelity are glamorized and glorified in our godless and sensual society. I read in one book (Dr. Laura Schlessinger, The Ten Commandments) about a magazine article which appeared in the New York Times Magazine (10/12/97). The author of the article stated,

… we’ve grown much more tolerant of adultery, at least when it comes to women. Women’s magazines practically  recommend it to their readers as a fun and healthy activity, like buying a new shade of lipstick, or vacationing in the Caribbean….

Marital infidelity or unfaithfulness is a destructive force in our society. It may be difficult to estimate the number of lives that are spiritually, emotionally and even physically destroyed by this plague. Sadly, the most vulnerable victims from the “fallout” of adultery are our children.

2. All other sexual sins named in the OT or the NT are a violation of the sacredness of marriage.

This includes fornication (physical intimacy before marriage), and sexual perversions such as incest, homosexuality and bestiality.

Jesus stated that all the commandments can be summed up in two: loving God and loving our neighbor. We have stated before that loving God would include Commandments 1-4; and loving our neighbor would include Commandments 5-10. The seventh one is the only one that is related to sexual behavior. The point then is not only adultery, but all sexual sins are a direct assault on the sanctity of marriage.

There are many different Scripture references in the OT books of Exodus & Leviticus and numerous NT books regarding fornication, homosexuality and other sexual sins. According to the Bible, sexual conduct is considered holy and sacred when it is kept within the boundaries of a loving, faithful marriage. Any other sexual conduct is unholy and sinful. In direct contradiction to biblical boundaries, our society has basically promoted a “do as you please” policy.
 

For example, we are living in an age when many couples believe that cohabitating before marriage is the safest way to ensure that a marriage will work. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Researchers stated years ago that approximately 85% of couples who live together before marriage end up getting divorced after marriage. 

3. Non-sexual relationships that include emotional bonding and sensual fantasies violate the sacredness of marriage.

God intended the bond between a husband and a wife to be so strong that they would be united in body, mind and spirit. Intellectual, emotional and spiritual intimacy all work together to enhance physical intimacy as well. The “three-strand cord” is impossible to break when it has been faithfully created and nurtured. Therefore, it is imperative that every husband and wife intentionally develop an emotional and spiritual intimacy together as well as physical intimacy.

Dear friends who are married, we all need to vigorously guard against the emotional attachments that would threaten our devotion and faithfulness to our spouses. I’m convinced that many people who end up in an adulterous affair, never intended to “go that far” but they were careless about the emotional attachments that had been developing over a period of time.

Fantasies can be defined as thoughts that one entertains and nurtures in the mind regarding conduct that he/she does not intend to engage in. Matt. 5:28 Jesus said, Any man who looks on a woman to lust after her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

The point is that when one willfully chooses to entertain thoughts of infidelity or promiscuity, he is already guilty of the sin in the sight of God. THIS DOES NOT MEAN “if you think it, you might as well do it.” Certainly the consequences of “doing it” are far worse than not doing it.

Sensual fantasies are fueled by such things as pornography and all types of sexually suggestive media. I feel it is necessary to say something here about modesty in our attire. We must not forget the biological fact that most men are primarily visual rather than emotional or relational.

In speaking out against the immorality and promiscuity of our culture, I may come across as being angry or hard. I don't intend to give that impression; but I am passionate about the assaults on the sacredness of the marriage relationship designed by God.

We will have to continue this discussion next time, but I want to remind you that God has hope and healing available for all those who have been affected in any way by the various violations of this seventh commandment that we have discussed today.

 
Next sermon in this series is: Holy Matrimony - Part Two (link available in blog archive on right)

Image Is Everything (34mb)

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is the seventh sermon in a series on the Ten Commandments. This message discusses the sixth commandment regarding murder.

Written Excerpts:

Exodus 20:13 Thou shalt not kill.

Introduction:

Today we are moving on to consider the sixth commandment, which is very simply stated, “You shall not kill.” The intentional or negligent taking of a human life is condemned in the strongest terms by God.

Here are some statistics that I learned on the FBI’s crime statistics website: (http://www2.fbi.gov/ucr/cius2009/offenses/violent_crime/murder_homicide.html)

■An estimated 15,241 persons were murdered nationwide in 2009, which is a 7.3% decrease from the 2008 estimate, a 9.0% decrease from the 2005 figure, and a 2.2% decrease from the 2000 estimate.

■More than 44% (44.8) of murders were reported in the South, the most populous region, with 21.3% reported in the West, 20.0% reported in the Midwest, and 13.9% reported in the Northeast.

The good news in these statistics is that the rate is going down. The bad news is that it still represents a staggering loss of human life through the awful crime of murder.

I suppose that all of us are sitting here thinking that this is one sermon Pastor Les doesn’t really need to preach, because there isn’t anyone in our church that would think about killing someone. Well, I certainly hope that is true. However, I do believe that there are some important lessons we can still learn or take from this commandment that we might not have thought about before.

A.  Negative Meaning: Do not murder.

The sixth commandment simply says, do not kill. The meaning of the Hebrew word as defined and described by most OT scholars is the idea of murder. The command is a prohibition against the intentional and malicious destruction of another human life either through direct means or through negligence.

B.  Positive Meaning: Human life is sacred.

Several of the verses that we read earlier in our Scripture reading today related to the fact that God has created man in His image and therefore human life is sacred. That truth is expanded in many ways throughout the Bible. The simple fact is that everyone who has any desire at all to follow God’s Word and God’s will should have a high regard for the lives of our fellow human beings.

C.  Exposition:

Lessons that we learn from the proper understanding of this command include:

1.  Any violence or negligence that results in the loss of a human life is a violation of this command.

Death that resulted from a plot or plan that could be described as “lying in wait,” was definitely included in this command. (e.g., Cain and Abel)

In addition to deliberate actions taken to end someone’s life, we also learn from Exodus 21:29 and Deut. 22:8 that any death that results from negligence is also included in this command. In these passages, the examples include: someone who was killed by an ox, but the owner knew that the ox was prone to gore with its horns and didn’t take necessary precautions to have the animal confined; or someone who didn’t build a suitable barrier around the roof of his house to prevent another from accidentally falling to his death.

In all these cases which might be classified as some form of “homicide,” the punishment defined by God in the OT was death or “capital punishment.” Capital punishment emphasized the fact that anyone who negligently or deliberately destroys life, must suffer the destruction of his own life because “he has destroyed that which represents the image of God on earth.”

Passive inaction to defend life is prohibited. See Lev. 19:16 where “stand against the blood…” is interpreted by some as “stand aside while your fellow’s blood is shed.”

Suicide – (K&D) The omission of the object still remains to be noticed, as showing that the prohibition includes not only the killing of a fellow-man, but the destruction of one’s own life, or suicide.

2.  This command does not include certain cases of death.

a. Self-defense     Exodus 22:2 – This case speaks specifically about a thief that is breaking in at night and is struck so that he dies.

b. Accidental death      Deut. 19:4ff – Someone accidentally kills a man when ax head flies off. He can go to city of refuge to avoid the “avenger of blood.”

c. Capital Punishment    Gen. 9:6 – whoever sheds man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed. Also, Numbers 35 describes the task of the “avenger of blood.”  Romans 13: Talks about the civil authorities are ordained for the punishment of evil and “do not bear the sword in vain.”

d. War      Deut. 20 – talks about specific rules of engagement God gave for war. Also, Romans 13 could apply to the situation of war i.e. “punishment of evil.”

In all of these specific situations the slayer was viewed differently because the death was either accidental or it was within God-given guidelines for the destruction of evil in the world.

3. This command emphasizes the value of human life.

(K&D) Life is placed at the head of these [last 5] commandments… because it is the basis of human existence, and [by attacking] the life the personality is attacked, and in that the image of God (Gen 9:6).

Before one gets very far in the first book of the Bible, we find the basis for the severity of punishment God ordained for those who violated this commandment. In Genesis 9:6 we are informed that whoever sheds innocent blood is to be put to death himself. Why? Because man is made in the image of God and any attack on the life of a human being is an attack on the image of God in this world.

Human beings are the only creatures in this world that have been described as being made in the image of God. There is no other creature on earth as valuable and precious in the sight of God as a human life. So you see, as I have stated in the title of this message, “Image IS Everything!” Without that image of God within each one of us, we are nothing more than an animal.

The Bible clearly teaches that God is the author of human life, so therefore only God has the ultimate right to take human life. We have emphasized this point at other special church services, but this inherent value in the life of a human being speaks to the issues of abortion, euthanasia and other important human rights issues of our world and society.

4.  This command applies to words and attitudes that violate human dignity and value.

For the Christian who is not only trying to follow the Ten Commandments, but to also follow the principles and teachings of our Lord and the Apostles in the NT, we must realize the ways in which Jesus and the Apostles applied this commandment.

Abusive and derogatory talk directed toward one another is addressed by Jesus, Paul and John. However, it is not just a New Testament addition to this commandment. These applications show up first in the OT book of Leviticus. See Leviticus 19:14-18.

a. Malicious slander and gossip.

b. Verbal attacks that reveal inner anger and hatred.

In Matthew 5:21ff, Jesus informs us that anger within one’s heart that finds expression in abusive language towards another person is the seed of murder. The actual definitions and complete explanation of Jesus’ words here can be examined at another time, but the point in His statement is this…

Anger and hatred within our hearts toward another person that finds expression in verbal outbursts that attack the worth and dignity of that person is equivalent to what I would call “verbal homicide.” (Including slander and gossip.) The reason I have classified it as “verbal homicide” is because these kinds of words have the power to kill the very spirit and self dignity within a person that convinces them or others that they have no worth or value in the eyes of God. This is especially true when it involves a child. These kinds of verbal abuse or outbursts can have the power to convince the victim that their life is worthless in the eyes of God, especially when those words come from a parent.

1 John 3:14-17, the Apostle John talks about the evidence of spiritual life in the believer and that evidence is a genuine love for our “brother.” John adamantly states that anyone who hates his brother is a murderer. He then goes on to describe conduct that would, by its very connection in the context here, help define what kinds of behavior constitutes hatred toward one’s brother. That includes, having the ability to help someone in dire need, but not doing anything about it.

Conclusion:

As I stated at the outset of this message, probably most of us feel like this message doesn’t really apply to me, because I have never killed anyone, nor ever thought about killing anyone. Yet, as we have pointed out here in the last few minutes, the commandment as applied by Jesus and the Apostle John does include more than literal murder.

We must be careful about our heart attitudes and our verbal communication towards one another and about one another. According to these principles, we can be guilty of murder in our hearts if there is hatred and bitter anger towards another human being.

Next sermon in this series is: Holy Matrimony - Part One (link available in blog archive on right)

How Heavy Is Your Dad? (33mb)

(To download an mp3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is the sixth message in a series of sermons on the Ten Commandments. This message covers the fifth commandment about honoring one's parents.

Written Excerpts:

Exodus 20:12 Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the Lord your God is giving you. (NKJV)

Introduction:

Would you agree that we are living in a culture where there has been a great loss of respect and honor for parents and for authority in general? Would you also agree that our society seems to flaunt rebellion against authority and the breakdown of meaningful relationships?

Our message today continues the series of messages on the Ten Commandments which all contain important principles God has provided in order for us to experience a life that is filled with joy and true happiness. Why? Because we are living them the way He designed.

V.        Honor your father and your mother.

A.        Negative Meaning: Do not disrespect your parents.

As we have been doing with the previous commandments, we want to take a look at some of the key words in the Scripture passages in order to get a better understanding of the meaning God intended.

“Honor” – The O.T. Hebrew word here carries the basic meaning of “to be heavy, or weighty,” a meaning which is only rarely used literally, the figurative use is more common. It implies the idea of a person that is a “weighty” person in society; honorable; impressive; or worthy of respect. (Theological Wordbook of the OT)

In the Ephesians 6 passage (verse 2), the Greek word that is translated “honor” is a word that literally means: “set a price on,” “estimate,” or “value.” (Wuest)

B.        Positive Principle: Family structures are sacred.

I believe that the primary positive principle that is taught with this command is that God has specifically designed the appropriate structures for families and therefore, they are sacred, or holy.

I also believe there are at least two more subordinate principles that this command covers. First, because family structures are sacred, we understand that relationships are of highest value. Second, because family structures are sacred, we understand that chain-of-command, or authority structures are also very important.

I add these “subordinate principles” because I don’t believe any of the other Commandments address these issues that are certainly emphasized elsewhere in God’s Word.

C.        Exposition:

There are at least three lessons that I think we need to learn as we talk about the proper exposition of this commandment

1.  This command requires that we value our parents and increase the influence of our parents.

If we go back for a moment to review what we said about the definition of the Hebrew word, it carried the idea of making someone a “weighty” person. The idea expressed is that in everything a child does the respect of their parents is at stake, and God says do everything you can to make your parents “heavy” or “weighty.”  Conversely, do not do anything or say anything, etc., to reduce your parents’ “weight” or respect in the community.

With this understanding of what it means to honor someone, then our responsibility and our ability to perform the requirements of this command do not end when we become adults ourselves. We still bring either respect and honor or shame and disgrace whether we are children, young adults, middle-aged adults or even senior citizens. Actually, this aspect of honor continues even after our parents are dead and gone.

If we properly understand the impact of this emphasis, then we will understand that it not only has to do with how I behave toward my parents when I am around them and at home with them, but it also applies (and perhaps we could say it especially applies) to my behavior when I am away from them with my friends and going about my business in the community.

I remember one time I got in trouble in high school (maybe I should say one of the times I got in trouble! L). I can still remember the principal asking me, “What would your parents think if I called them and told them what you did?” Believe you me, I instantly sent up a prayer that thankfully was answered! In reality, what he was really asking was this: “What kind of parents do you have anyway?” In the eyes of that principal at that moment, my behavior had reflected very badly on the reputation of my parents.

We have just covered the O.T. emphasis. The N.T. word for “honor” adds the concept of giving an evaluation or appraisal of someone or something and giving them the proper esteem, respect and value that God says we should.

(Wuest) “To honor someone therefore is to evaluate that person accurately and honestly, and treat him with the deference, respect, reverence, kindness, courtesy, and obedience which his station in life or his character demands.”

Now, I recognize that some people have real problems right here, because they have had parents that really didn’t deserve respect and honor no matter how you “slice it.” So, that brings me to the second lesson from this command.

2.  This command emphasizes the importance of relationships in all facets of life.

I’m convinced that the Bible is very clear about one thing: God is not merely interested in conformity to rules. God is infinitely concerned with motives and attitudes and other aspects of life that accompany the rules. I don’t believe you can read through the Bible and cover all the references that pertain to parent and child issues without coming to the conclusion that people are more important than rules.

Look at Ephesians chapters 5 & 6. Verses 1-2 of chapter 6 deals with how children are to respond to parents and parents to children, but if you look at the whole context beginning with 521, the whole passage talks about submission, respect, honor and service that should govern the lives of parents, wives, husbands, children, slaves (workers) and masters (employers).

The emphasis comes out very clearly that we must remember that these individuals are not just parents, but they are brothers and sisters in Christ. These are not just my children, but they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. And so with masters and slaves. Why? Because even though positions are important, they aren’t as important as the people in those positions.

The reason children need to honor and respect their parents, is because it fosters wholesome and godly relationships. The reason parents (fathers) are instructed, “Do not provoke your children to anger,” is because it will nurture and develop a wholesome relationship that can remain beautiful and valuable for a lifetime.

The reason employers and workers are to give the proper respect to each other is because they are both valuable and equal in the sight of God. To do otherwise destroys any potential for a wholesome and beautiful example of how God can bond people together in godly relationships.

Because of this, we agree with the common truth that “respect isn’t something that can be merely demanded or required, but true respect and honor must be earned.” You can force someone to obey you, but that doesn’t mean that they will respect you.

The third and final lesson I believe we can learn from this command is…

3.  This command emphasizes the need for and the importance of authority structures.

I’ve already stated that the primary principle here has to do with family structures. However, if you read through the Bible in both the O.T. and the N.T. you will find that God has a lot to say about authority structures in every area of life. Someone has identified four different authority structures that are taught in Scripture: family, government, church, and business (employment).

Where would our society or any society be today if there were no authority structures and chain-of-command to follow? God designed it all for a reason and a purpose in order to produce an orderly and productive society and world. Without some type of structure that includes authority, we would have chaos in every strata or level of our society and culture.

So this fifth commandment addresses that need by pointing out the first and most basic authority structure – the family. Someone has to have the final word. Someone has to have the final responsibility. And, in order to have this work properly, all those in the chain-of-command under the head must recognize the importance of harmonious cooperation based on proper honor and respect of those who are over us. When authority and respect breaks down in the home, it breaks down in every other level of society.

Conclusion:

As we bring this message to a close, I know that there are those here today who have experienced the pain of abuse from those who were in authority, whether in the home, the school, at work, etc. The horrible actions of some of them in no way can be justified, no matter how you look at it.

Because of that you still struggle today with being able to properly show honor and respect to that person or persons. If you were honest, you would admit that you have no desire to improve their reputation or their “weight” in the community. They don’t deserve it. I know I can’t take the time today to address all of those concerns, except to say that if you struggle with those issues, God cares and He offers healing for you.

On the other hand, the actions of some very bad people doesn’t destroy or do away with the original plan and intent that God has for our lives. His plan is still the best. Sin, disobedience and rebellion against God has always marred relationships that God intended to be beautiful and harmonious.

If you’re struggling with issues, listen to the words of this closing hymn: Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us.

Next sermon in this series is: Image Is Everything (link available in blog archive on right)

The Manufacturer's Design (42mb)

(To download an MP3 file of this message, click on the title above. To listen now online, click on the play button of the audio player shown above.)

This is the fifth sermon in a series of messages on the Ten Commandments. This message discusses the fourth commandment regarding the Sabbath Day.

Written Excerpts:

“The Manufacturer’s Design”

Exodus 20:8 Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 

Introduction:

There are times that I have stopped to read the directions for assembling some product or repairing something. For me, however, reading directions usually comes AFTER I have spent considerable time trying to figure it out by myself! J

I don’t know why that is. I suppose it is some hidden, genetic code in the male gender that signals weakness or ignorance when one has to “consult the manual.” Or, on the other hand, it signals some type of super intelligence or victorious conquest when one figures it out on his own.

Whatever we were trying to figure out suddenly became much clearer once we learned how it was meant to work as designed by the manufacturer.

I think that this analogy fits quite well as we introduce the fourth commandment in our series of messages on the Ten Commandments. As implied with the title I have chosen for today’s message, this commandment really relates to how we were made by our Master Designer or “Manufacturer.”

IV.       Remember the Sabbath Day to Keep it Holy.

This is the first of only two commands out of ten that were given in a positive format rather than negative. So, if I were to state this command in a negative way it would be like this:

A. Negative Meaning: Do not violate the sanctity of the Sabbath.

There are a couple of words in this commandment that probably ought to be defined before we “dig into” this command.

“Sabbath” – in its various forms carries the idea of “put an end to,” or “come to an end.” As such, it also includes the concepts of “cease” or “rest.” (Theological Wordbook of the O.T., Harris, Archer & Waltke)

“holy” – includes the dual concepts of “separated or set apart for a specific purpose” and “cleansed from impurities.” It included the idea of being distinct from that which was common or profane.

With these definitions in mind, the command literally requires God’s covenant people to observe a day that was reserved for rest from labor and other mundane pursuits and the advancement of spiritual or sacred pursuits.

B. Positive Principle: Time and rest are sacred.

This commandment, like all the others, teaches us more than just the avoidance of certain activities in order to conform to a set of rules, but it promotes a principle that is intended to enhance the quality of life as designed by God. After considerable thinking and studying, I have concluded that the positive principle being promoted by this command is that “rest is sacred.” If rest is sacred and if time should be allotted specifically for rest, then it follows that a broader principle must also be included here: “time is sacred.”

In other words, God has granted every human being a gift called time. We all receive the same allotment of time for each day, but we are not all granted the same allotment of days in our lives.

Some authors (Dr. Laura Schlessinger, et.al.), have pointed out that, while man has been granted the ability to be creative and can create many things, time is something that only God can create and therefore it is sacred. This means that we must recognize our responsibility to use it wisely and that includes intentional time reserved for renewing our connection to God.

C. Exposition:

Let us take a look at some of the lessons that this principle is teaching us about God, about ourselves and about life.

1. The Bible defines appropriate observances of the Sabbath during ancient times.

When we attempt to interpret OT Scriptures and commands such as this one on the Sabbath, it is important to get a grasp of how it was understood by OT authors, as well as finding out any additional insights that are brought to light by NT authors. There are several passages that reveal to us what the biblical authors had to say about the observance of the Sabbath.

a. It was a day to abstain from all secular work such as: treading wine presses and the carrying of burdens. (See Ex. 20:9-11; 23:12; 31:15; Lev. 23:3; Num. 15:32; Deut. 5:14-15; Neh. 13:15-19; Jer. 17:21-23)

Exodus 31 passage is especially interesting as pointed out by one OT Commentary (Jamison, Fauset and Brown), because the reminder about Sabbath observance is in the context of building the Tabernacle. Evidently the Israelites were not to think that the “holy work” of building a Tabernacle for God could override the observance of the Sabbath.

This prohibition also carried over to animals and servants, which seems to use the Sabbath to promote the equality of all people. In the culture of that period masters could require servants to do their bidding every other day of the week, but on the Sabbath the servant is worthy and deserving of rest just as much as the master.

b. It was a day to abstain from seeking their own pleasures. (See Isaiah 58:13-14)

It’s not clear what all this included, but if you read this passage, there is a distinction between seeking their own delights and pleasures and delighting themselves in the Lord.

c. It was a day to abstain from merchandising. (See Neh. 13:15-21)

d. It was a day of worship, spiritual instruction and renewal. (See Num. 28:9; Ezek. 46:3; Luke 4:16; Acts 13:14)

2. The Sabbath was a reminder to the nation of Israel.

a. It was a reminder that God created and then observed the Sabbath.

In the Exodus 20 passage, the reason behind the command is tied to the activity of the Creator. God created the day, He blessed the day, He sanctified the day, all as a vivid reminder that God is sovereign over time.

In all that God created He proclaimed it “good.” After the creation of man, He pronounced His creation “very good.” But, after creating the day of rest, He is described as blessing it and sanctifying it. One writer believes that this suggests that the climax of creation was not the creation of man, but the creation of the Sabbath. (V. Hamilton, Theological Wordbook of the O.T.)

b. It was a reminder that they are no longer slaves in Egypt.

In Deuteronomy 5:15, as Moses is repeating the law for the Israelites before they enter the Promised Land, the reason or motivation given for the command is that they were once slaves in Egypt.

Apparently God gave the commandment to honor and hallow the Sabbath as a way of reminding them that when they were slaves, they never knew what it was like to have a day of rest. Sabbath rest is a perpetual reminder of their former slavery and their current freedom. The Sabbath day was a time to celebrate freedom from slavery and the freedom to worship the Lord God. They no longer had some tyrant dictating to them what to do and when to do it and who to serve, but they had the freedom to serve the Lord.

3. The Sabbath was a sign of God’s covenant relationship. (See Ex. 31:13, 17; Ezek. 20:12, 20)

In all four of these verses the Lord is reminding the people of Israel through Moses and the Prophet Ezekiel that the Sabbath was given as a sign that they had been “sanctified” by God. God sanctified the day back in Genesis. But He also sanctified (separated out from the common) His people and the Sabbath was the sign of their special standing or relationship with God.

Yes, these verses originally were given to the nation of Israel as a covenant sign. However, most Bible scholars believe that promises made to Israel as a nation, apply to the church in a spiritual sense as the “New Israel” that the Apostle Paul applies to all those who believe. So, it is still appropriate for the true people of God to observe a day that highlights and emphasizes a covenant relationship with the Lord of heaven.

As a sign it reminds them that they were “owned” by the Lord of heaven, not by the rulers of the secular world around them.

If I were to apply that concept to our situation today, I would think of it like this. The Sabbath day reminds us that we too are in a covenant relationship with God. He is our Lord, not anyone or anything else. We are not ruled and controlled by any tyrant, by our jobs, by our possessions, or even by our passions and desires. We belong to the Lord and the best way to demonstrate that is to honor the day that He sanctified as a day to put aside all worldly pursuits and demands and focus our attention on him.

4. The Sabbath was made for man… but Christ is Lord of the Sabbath. (Mark 2:27-28)

There are a few important points that stand out in these verses.

a. Man wasn’t made for the Sabbath.

Jesus seems to be affirming here that just conforming to a rigid rule here is not the goal nor the desire. I believe that it highlights a truth that we can say about all of God’s commandments: (which I had mentioned at the very beginning of this series) God has given us His Word, His commands and His principles for our own benefit, not for the benefit of the command. The primary message of Jesus and the whole New Testament is to get away from the rigid legalism or worship of the laws and get our hearts and minds focused on the Lawgiver and His desire for our wholeness and wellbeing – a wholeness that is based in a vital relationship with Him.

b. The Sabbath was made for man.

Jesus affirms that the intention of our heavenly Father all along was for our blessing and our benefit.

If I could go back to the analogy I started this message with – God is our creator (manufacturer) and He knows how we are designed and how we ought to be “maintained.” He knows how important it is for us to physically take a day of rest from work, pressure and demands of life in order to be renewed in spirit, soul and mind. If we neglect to follow the “instructions / directions” of the manufacturer, then we ought not be surprised when the “machines” break down from exhaustion and “running on empty.”

God gave us this principle for our own benefit. We need regular days to rest from the “rat race” and reorient our lives; to refocus our priorities; to rediscover why we are really here and where we are ultimately going; to be reminded of what’s really important.

c. Christ is Lord of the Sabbath.

Jesus is proclaiming His authority as the Lord over the Sabbath.

Yes, He is letting those Pharisees know that all the laws and their interpretations are ultimately subject only to the authority of God. He is letting them know that all the interpretations and rigid rules man had added to the original commandment didn’t have authority over Him. At the same time, He is letting them know that no man has the right to overrule or redefine God’s laws to suit his own plans and desires.

Conclusion:

I readily admit that this is one of the hardest of the commandments to interpret and apply to our current age because of the various statements of Jesus and the Apostle Paul. However, I am firmly convinced that neither of them advocated the “repeal” of the fourth commandment. They both seem to be arguing against legalism and rigid conformity to rules rather than a relationship with the Father through the Son and Holy Spirit.

We don’t want to be legalistic. That means we don’t want to get so rigid and demanding so that we “put heavy burdens on others that we are not willing to carry ourselves.”  That means we don’t want to be constantly looking for “loopholes” that make it look like we are following the law, but we still get to do what we want.

Having said that, neither do we want to be irreverent and disobedient to the Lord. I truly believe that God will honor those who will honor Him by practicing the Sabbath concept even in this day and age.

It really is no surprise that the church is in such dire need of a spiritual awakening and is in moral decline. Most of the church these days doesn’t really take the time out of their schedules to really concentrate their heart and soul on spiritual pursuits.

Many feel that if they show up at a worship service they have fulfilled their obligation to God for this week and it’s on to business as usual for the rest of the day and on into the week. God didn’t design us that way. Let us purpose to give God an opportunity to slow us down enough that He can really reveal Himself to us in a new and vital relationship.

The next sermon in this series is: How Heavy Is Your Dad? (link available in blog archive on right)

Words Mean Things

(Audio recording of this sermon is not available at this time due to technical difficulties.)

This is the fourth sermon in a series of messages on the Ten Commandments. This message is about the third commandment, using the name of the Lord in vain.

Written Excerpts:

“Words Mean Things”

Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.” (The use of the double negative means God will hold him guilty.)

Introduction:

Today we are continuing our series of messages on the Ten Commandments. We want to take a look at the third commandment and discover some important principles and lessons for our daily walk of faith.

As you can see from the title of the message, we are going to be discussing our speech in today’s message. I came across some pretty brilliant little tidbits regarding talking that I thought would be worth sharing. These were borrowed from Illustrations Unlimited, edited by James Hewett.

¶         If your mind should go blank, don’t forget to turn off the sound.

¶         If nobody ever said anything unless he knew what he was talking about, a ghastly hush would descend upon the earth. - Sir Alan Herbert

¶         Blessed is the man who, having nothing say, abstains from giving wordy evidence of the fact. - George Eliot

¶         Saving face is often accomplished by keeping the lower part of it shut.

¶         There is nothing wrong with having nothing to say—unless you insist on saying it.

Well, there might be a good deal of wisdom in these little quotes. Of course the book of Proverbs in the Old Testament also has quite a bit to say about the use of the tongue. One thing that the Third Commandment teaches is that our speech is important and “words mean things.”

Let us turn our attention to this command that God has given so we can learn some important lessons from it.

III.       Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord Thy God in Vain.

A. Negative Meaning: Do not use God’s name in a worthless or irreverent manner.

The word “vain” comes from a Hebrew root word meaning “to be empty” in the sense of “to be without substance, to be worthless.” In has also been defined as “false” or “deceptive.”

The word is usually translated in the OT as vain or vanity, but it is also translated as false, falsely or lying. In fact, the same word is used in Deut. 5:20 (where the TC’s are repeated) and it is used in the ninth commandment – “Do not bear false witness…”

Some writers believe that one of the specific practices being addressed with this command was the use of God’s name in an oath in order to give more credibility to the oath-taker, even though the person never intended to fulfill their vow or tell the truth. There are many more ways that people misuse the name of God, which we will discuss in a few minutes.

B. Positive Principle: Speech is sacred. (Words mean things!)

One writer (Walter Kaiser, Toward OT Ethics) proposes that the positive principle of this command is “the sanctity of verbal worship;” in conjunction with internal and external worship already mentioned in the first two commandments. With this view, apparently the author believes that the command is primarily talking about insincere prayer or irreverent worship toward God including prayers, songs, and speech.

However, after reading a number of different authors I have come to the conclusion that it might be better to explain the positive principle as the “sanctity of speech.” After all, if we truly understand the full meaning of worship, we know that it is more than just going to church, reading our Bibles and praying. Our whole life is to be lived as an act of worship to God.

Words really do mean things! So, it is vitally important for us to evaluate the kind of messages and values we convey by the speech that comes out of our mouths. People around us can learn a lot about our faith, our values and our ethical principles by listening to the way that we talk.

Yes, the command is specific in the sense that it is talking about the vain or irreverent verbal use of God’s name. But, the ultimate application of this principle includes all of our speech and our behavior, not just the times that we are verbally worshiping.

C. Exposition:

What are the lessons that this principle teaches us? I believe that there are at least 4 lessons.

1. God’s name may not be used to propagate a lie.

I already stated that some authors or scholars indicate that this command specifically dealt with the practice of swearing an oath in God’s name without any intention of being honest.

See Leviticus 19:11-12 “You shall not steal, nor deal falsely, nor lie to one another. ¹²And you shall not swear by My name falsely, nor shall you profane the name of your God: I am the Lord.”

All of my life I have heard folks use the name of God in various conversational settings to confirm or authenticate what they were saying was the truth, but they knew all along that they were telling a lie.

Jesus said that we were speak in such a way that “your yes be yes and your no be no.” In other words, our reputation and character should be such that everyone who knows us automatically knows that they can trust whatever we say. We don’t need to swear an oath in order to reinforce the validity of our claims.

However, this command does not forbid the practice of using God’s name in a court setting.

In Deut. 6:13 Moses tells the people of Israel “You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name.”

Of course, the assumption is that the person taking an oath in God’s name in a court of law would be doing it in sincerity, honesty and integrity. To do so otherwise would not only make the person guilty of perjury, but would make them guilty of breaking the third commandment regarding the sacred use of God’s name.

2. Disobeying public or private vows taken in the name of God is a violation of this command.

There are a lot of different ceremonies (religious and civic) where people make public promises or vows in the name of God to fulfill certain duties. Those ceremonies include such things as weddings, child dedications, church membership ceremony, or taking an oath of office for some public political office.

They promise to fulfill their obligations to their spouse, their child, their church or the general public with the help of God and as they shall answer to God. For some of those people, they know when they recite the vow that they do not intend to practice or honor it. Others, start out with good intentions, but for various reasons neglect their promise. These are examples of taking the name of God in a worthless or vain manner. It is a serious thing, dear friends, to make a promise in God’s name to fulfill certain obligations.

3. Any irreverent or casual use of God’s name is a violation of this command. (Including substitutes for His name.)

Scholars have pointed out that names carried significant meanings in biblical times. There are many examples cited in Scripture when men’s names were changed when they had a significant encounter with God. Their names before and after the encounter often carried great spiritual significance. So it was with God. One writer pointed out that in contrast to the pagans and heathens around the Israelites, God did not choose to reveal His glory or character with images or idols, but He revealed Himself by His name.

Whenever we invoke the name of God or use the name of God in our speech we are referencing the very nature, character and reputation of God. Therefore, to lightly, flippantly and irreverently throw His name around in casual conversation seems to be a clear violation of this command. There are a lot of “good Christian folk” who are guilty of saying “God,” “Lord,” or “Jesus” in jest or as expletives in their everyday conversation. I believe that this deeply grieves the heart of God.

4. We can take the name of God in vain by the way we live and behave.

The word “take” can be understood as “take up” or “carry.” It portrays the image of a person who “carries” the name of the Lord by virtue of the fact that they claim to be a follower of God or a follower of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger (The Ten Commandments), states it like this, “…actions, behaviors and positions that we take in God’s name must not defame His name. History is pock-marked with episodes of torture, murder, rape and plundering all in God’s name. This, of course, is a deeper profanity.”

Lev. 19:2 “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.”

 (Dr. Laura) “Since it is our duty to emulate God… a clear way to sanctify God’s name is to behave in holy ways, even and especially under threat and coercion.... [With some] kinds of behaviors [we] profane the name of God because it is through our actions that His will, intent, and character is made evident on the earth for all peoples.”

Matt. 6:9 “…Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name.”

When we pray, "Let your name be hallowed (holy, sacred)," we are not asking God to make His name or His character more holy than it already is. We are asking that His name may become more holy and sacred among the people with whom we dwell. That is primarily accomplished by our testimony and our lives that we live before them.

For example, 1 Tim. 6:1 “Let as many bondservants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honor, so that the name of God and His doctrine may not be blasphemed.”

When we are hypocritical in our speech, our attitudes and our behaviors, then it is very likely that we are causing God’s name to be degraded in the minds of those who watch us and hear us and work with us.

I believe that this is the essence of truth found in the Third Commandment. If we claim to be Christian, then we better act like a Christian and talk like a Christian and demonstrate the attitudes of a Christian.

 Alexander the Great had a soldier brought before him who faced court-martial for misconduct. The man stood before the great commander with trembling knees. “What is your name?” he was asked.

“Alexander, sir,” the man replied.

There was a pause. Again the Emperor asked, “Soldier, I asked you before, ‘What is your name?’”

“My name is Alexander!”

With a face red with fury, the commander shouted again, “What is your name?”

“Alexander,” came the meek reply.

Alexander the Great stood up and faced the man. “You either change your name or change your conduct.” (Randall Denny, Tables of Stone for Modern Living)

Conclusion:

Back in the 1960’s my Dad finished up his schooling and his apprenticeship for barbering and he was ready to open his own shop in Meadville. We all helped him clean, paint and get the place ready to open up for business. One of the things Dad had made especially for his new business was a sign for the wall that read, “No Profanity Please.”

There were two reasons he did that. One, so parents would feel comfortable bringing their children into his shop. Two, so he could glorify God by taking a stand against vulgar and profane conversation.

What kind of impression would people around me have of God by listening to the way that I talk? What impressions will I give to people around me about Jesus Christ by the way that I talk?

Dear friends, I want you to remember that I have stated from the very beginning of this series that the purpose of the law of the Lord is to make us aware of any areas where we have been missing the mark or falling below God’s standard of holy behavior. Let us not get discouraged or angry or defensive if we have been convicted by the Lord on any issue. Let us seek the Lord’s forgiveness and pray for His grace to enable us to change our conduct in order to bring glory to His holy name.

Also, I want you to know that it is never my intention to proclaim judgment or condemnation and then leave you “hanging” to figure out what you can do about your need. I am always available to provide spiritual counsel and assistance to anyone who is troubled and wants God’s help in your life.

Let’s stand together for a closing prayer.

The next sermon in this series is: The Manufacturer's Design (link available in blog archive on right)