Messages
Deuteronomy 9 |
| Posted by Administrator (charlie) on Mar 23 2009 |
- Introduction
When we think about the grace of God, we think about something g very important.
The grace of God is something that is experienced by every human being whether they become a Christ follower or they do not.
Often times when we think about grace, we think of it in the very limited area of salvation but we should also consider it in terms of our very ability to exist.
It is a function of God’s grace that does not smite us dead and judged in the very first moment of disobedience to God in our lives.
Yet, it is also a function of God’s grace that took us when we were dear in our trespasses and our sins and made us alive together with Christ.
- Describing the Biblical Text
This text is further recapping the wilderness exploits of the Israelites in their exodus from
As a matter of fact God is using the recap to show them that the y are really no better than the those being driven from the land except that they have been recipient s of the grace of God because of the promises of God.
- Narrate the Contextual application
There is a warning here for us as well.
We are cautioned repeatedly in the NT not to think more highly of ourselves than we ought.
We essentially see this same warning being issued here.
Don’t think that you are more righteous or holy than those people who are already in the Promised Land.
You have your share of problems as well.
Al a matter of fact, there was this little incident with a golden calf.
So what is it that enabled these people to have the blessing of God and not the others?
Simply put, it is the grace of God.
It is the unrighteousness of the Canaanites that disqualified them and the unrighteousness of the Israelites that should have disqualified them.
But, the Israelites had something going for them.
They had a promise to their ancestors and they had the grace of God choosing to bless them not base on desserts but based on His love for them.
- Life Application (thesis)
As we look at this passage, we are going to explore and expand this idea.
God did not call us into a relationship with Him because of our righteousness.
This is a statement that essentially stands as a defining attribute of God’s grace so in that vein, we will examine 3 qualities of God’s grace today.
- SO WHAT!! (Outline)
Grace acknowledges our own lack of worthiness.
Most of us have probably not heard the name Cullen Johnson or what is probably more correct is that you don’t remember who she is.
She was the runner up in the 1995 Miss
It was believed by many that Whitestone did not deserve the title but rather she was the recipient of the halo effect and the judges picked her not because she was more talented would be a better miss America, but because she was deaf.
The same criticism has been raised about Scott MacIntyre who is a blind contestant on American Idol.
Is he there because he deserves it or because of the judges’ sympathy for his blindness.
One thing is for sure even if Heather and Chris do not deserve to be where they are, they are there.
One thing can be said for us.
Our unrighteousness, or our sinfulness, should disqualify us from even being in the running for God’s mercy or his forgiveness.
Look at verse 4
Now, look at verse 6
Do you see something in both of these verses?
We are told not to think we are all that.
We are cautioned about believing that God has looked at us and chosen us based on some potential that we have.
We have only entered into His rest because of his goodness toward us and not because of anything that we brought to the table.
Think about the gifted people in this world.
How many people do we know or have we seen that could make an immeasurable impact for Christ if they were Christian.
If they would use their gifts to communicate the gospel or serve the church, they would be so effective.
But God doesn’t work that way.
He doesn’t view our potential, he views us.
He views the object of His affection.
Look at verse 4 again and let’s continue to read this time.
Do you see something there that indicates that
They are both an unrighteous people.
Yet God’s mercy is extended to the Israelites and not to the Canaanites.
Think about that.
The same is true for us.
We are no better than anyone else and yet we know the reaches of the mercy of God.
What could be the difference?
I;m sure one big difference is that we have heard of the mercy of God.
Now Days, there is a vast number of our population that don’t know who Jesus is other than a swear word they hear in movies and on TV.
But back in the day when some of us started coming here, the Bible was a book that was reverenced and the name of Jesus was known by most but that is not the case today.
If we can acknowledge that we are as unworthy to know God as anyone and that our only real advantage is that we have heard about him, what does that mean we need to do?
We need to tell others.
This leads us to our second point, “Grace advances God’s loving agenda.”
If God’s people are going to come to Him they must be told about Christ.
We look at Romans 10 that asks a series of leading questions based on a very important statement.
Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.
How will they call on Him in whom they have not believed and how shall they believe in him in whom they have not heard and how shall they hear without a preacher.
Now if God’s agenda is to save Roger on Old Mill road, Roger has to hear the gospel for that to happen and we must be a delivery system for that to happen.
In spite of God’s purpose and His agenda, salvation never occurs in a vacuum.
It is always because someone is faithful to tell people that they are in danger of a Christless eternity because of the sin that separates them from God.
This means that it is time for us to pray and to pray hard.
We need to make sure that our hearts are burdened for the lost.
Look at what Moses wrote in verse 18
Now look at verse 25
This would lead us to our third quality.
Grace accompanies time spent “laying down” in prayer.
I have been told that I need to preach more old fashioned evangelistic sermons.
When I hear that, I think about the sign on the post office door that says, “No Dogs Allowed – Except Seeing Eye Dogs.”
Who is that sign for?
Evangelistic sermons are only good when there are lost people in the pews and there will only be lost people in the pews when we bring them, in with us.
How much time do we really spend praying for lost people to come to church?
How much time should we be taking to invite lost people to church?
Moses cared so much for the unrighteous Israelites that he would spend 40 days in prayer and fasting for them to turn back to God.
We say we care about winning the Lost and we say we want to reach people so our prayers and subsequently our actions should demonstrate that.
We have good news for a lost and dying world.
It is new that can change lives because it is the gospel of the Lord Jesus who came that we might have life and have it abundantly.
Abundant life can only come when we realize that we are sinners and we need the one, Jesus, to bring us that life that we cannot acquire on our own.
The only remedy for the sin problem is to receive Jesus Christ and to trust him for salvation and forgiveness.
The Bible tells us that Christ has once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust.
He took our place received our punishment and stands to give us his righteousness.
Would you receive Him today and live for Him tomorrow.
We don’ deserve it but God may be calling you into his kingdom today.
That would be the greatest work of the Grace of God.
Last changed: Mar 23 2009 at 2:50 PM
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