The OFFER of LIFE or DEATH (CC)
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2/16/2014 CLOSED CAPTIONED
SERMON
TEXT: DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20
LET US RISE FOR THE READING OF
THIS MORNING'S
SERMON TEXT RECORDED FOR US BY
MOSES
IN THE BOOK OF DEUTERONOMY
WHERE WE READ FROM CHAPTER 30
BEGINNING WITH VERSE 15:
SEE, I SET BEFORE YOU TODAY
LIFE AND PROSPERITY,
DEATH AND DESTRUCTION. FOR I
COMMAND
YOU TODAY TO LOVE THE LORD
YOUR GOD,
TO WALK IN OBEDIENCE TO HIM,
AND TO KEEP HIS COMMANDS,
DECREES AND LAWS;
THEN YOU WILL LIVE AND
INCREASE, AND THE LORD
YOUR GOD WILL BLESS YOU IN THE
LAND YOU ARE ENTERING
TO POSSESS. BUT IF YOUR HEARTS
TURN AWAY
AND YOU ARE NOT OBEDIENT, AND
IF YOU ARE
DRAWN AWAY TO BOW DOWN TO
OTHER GODS
AND WORSHIP THEM, I DECLARE TO
YOU THIS DAY
THAT YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE
DESTROYED.
YOU WILL NOT LIVE LONG IN THE
LAND YOU ARE CROSSING
THE JORDAN TO ENTER AND
POSSESS. THIS DAY I
CALL THE HEAVENS AND THE EARTH
AS WITNESSES AGAINST YOU
THAT I HAVE SET BEFORE YOU
LIFE AND DEATH,
BLESSINGS AND CURSES.
NOW CHOOSE LIFE, SO THAT YOU
AND YOUR CHILDREN
MAY LIVE AND THAT YOU MAY LOVE
THE LORD YOUR GOD,
LISTEN TO HIS VOICE, AND HOLD
FAST TO HIM.
FOR THE LORD IS YOUR LIFE,
AND HE WILL GIVE YOU MANY
YEARS IN THE LAND
HE SWORE TO GIVE TO YOUR
FATHERS, ABRAHAM,
ISAAC AND JACOB. THIS IS THE
WORD OF OUR LORD.
LET US PRAY:
GLORIOUS AND GRACIOUS GOD, MAY
THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH AND THE
MEDITATION OF EACH OF OUR
HEARTS BE ACCEPTABLE IN YOUR
SIGHT, OUR ONLY SOURCE OF HOPE
AND COMFORT.
AMEN.
[TEXT TAKEN FROM
THE HOLY BIBLE:
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION,
1973, 1978, 1984, 2011,
BY BIBLICA, INC.]
DEAR FOLLOWERS OF OUR LORD
AND SAVIOR, JESUS CHRIST:
DID YOU ENJOY YOUR VALENTINE
CELEBRATION THIS WEEK?
WAS IT EVERYTHING THAT YOU HAD
HOPED FOR? EVERYTHING
THAT YOU HAD WANTED? KIND OF
INTERESTING
THAT THIS YEAR
I HEARD A LOT ABOUT HOW TO
CELEBRATE VALENTINE'S DAY.
SOME THINGS THAT REALLY CAUGHT
MY ATTENTION.
LIKE, IT IS TRULY
THE ONLY HOLIDAY LEFT
WHERE WOMEN WILL THROW ALL OF
THE ADVANCEMENTS
THAT THEY HAVE MADE IN SOCIETY
IN THE LAST 100 YEARS ... TO
GET WHAT
THEY WANT! THEY WANT THE
FLOWERS!
THEY WANT THE JEWELRY!
THEY WANT THE CHOCOLATES! AND
THEY WANT THE DINNER!
IT IS ALL ABOUT THE WOMAN!
AND WOMEN DEFEND THAT RIGHT
ON VALENTINE'S DAY
TO THE NTH DEGREE
BECAUSE HUSBANDS AREN'T
GETTING FLOWERS,
OR JEWELRY,
OR BOXES OF CHOCOLATES AND
THERE WAS ONE PERSON IN A
PANEL DISCUSSION WHERE ONE
LADY SAID TO THEM
IN THIS DISCUSSION: I DESERVE
THIS ON THIS DAY!
I DESERVE TO HAVE HIM
FAWN ALL OVER ME FOR JUST ONE
DAY,
BECAUSE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN
THE REST OF THE YEAR.
SORT OF AN INTERESTING
COMMENT,
ISN'T IT? THEN THERE WERE
SIMPLE THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO
TO SHOW YOUR SPOUSE THAT YOU
LOVE THEM. ACTUALLY THERE
WERE 30 OF THEM ON A LIST.
AND YOU SHOULD DO IT THE
WHOLE MONTH OF FEBRUARY.
KISS YOUR WIFE GOOD NIGHT.
KISS YOUR HUSBAND AS HE GOES
OFF TO WORK.
TEXT HIM DURING THE DAY JUST
TO
SAY "I LOVE YOU".
PUT A NOTE IN HIS WALLET.
SIMPLE LITTLE THINGS.
THE RESPONSE FROM THE WOMAN ON
THE PANEL
SAID: WHEN HE DOES THIS FOR ME
FOR 30 DAYS THEN HE'S GONNA
GET IT BACK
FROM ME.
THE AVERAGE AMOUNT THAT WOMEN
WANT THEIR HUSBANDS OR THEIR
SIGNIFICANT OTHERS
TO SPEND ON THEM FOR
VALENTINE'S DAY ...
TO MAKE IT MATTER ...
$250!
[PAUSE]
AN AVERAGE! SO ALL OF THOSE OF
YOU
WHO CAME IN UNDER THAT, THINK
OF ALL THE PEOPLE THAT
HAD TO COME IN OVER THAT.
BUT IT'S INTERESTING
HOW OUR HUMAN MINDS AND OUR
HUMAN NATURE
CAN TAKE EVEN A SIMPLE EVENT
AND
MAKE IT HAVE TO BE A
CELEBRATION
ABOUT 'ME'! A CELEBRATION OF WHAT
'I' WANT! WHAT 'I' AM GOING TO
GET OUT OF THIS TIME.
WHAT IS COMING TO ME
INSTEAD OF LOOKING AT
WHAT I'D BE.
WHAT I GIVE. WHAT I WANT TO
SHOW THE WORLD.
AND THIS IS WHY
WE NEED THOSE REMINDERS.
I THINK IT IS EXACTLY WHY GOD
SET HIS PEOPLE DOWN
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE
JORDAN RIVER
AND CAME TO THEM WITH A
REMINDER. THE ENTIRE BOOK
OF DEUTERONOMY; THESE ARE THE
THINGS THAT I WANT TO
REMIND YOU OF BEFORE YOU GO
INTO
THIS LAND THAT I PROMISED YOU.
BEFORE YOU
SEE THE FULFILLMENT OF THE
WORDS THAT I HAVE SPOKEN
TO YOUR FATHERS, ABRAHAM AND
ISAAC AND JACOB,
THAT I HAD PROMISED TO GIVE
THEM THIS LAND.
YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THAT
LAND.
AND I KNOW THAT I HAVE TO
REMIND YOU
OF WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR YOU
BECAUSE YOUR SINFUL NATURE
CAN EASILY FORGET.
YOUR SINFUL NATURE CAN EASILY
FORGET
THAT I WAS THE ONE WHO BROUGHT
YOU
UP OUT OF EGYPT.
THAT I WAS THE ONE WHO REMOVED
YOU FROM
SLAVERY. THAT I WAS THE ONE
WHO OPENED UP THE RED SEA SO
THAT YOU
COULD WALK TO SAFETY. THAT I
WAS THE ONE
WHO LED YOU DAY AND NIGHT
ON THIS JOURNEY THAT YOU HAVE
BEEN ON.
THAT I WAS THE ONE WHO
PROVIDED YOU WITH FOOD.
THAT I WAS THE ONE WHO CARED
FOR YOU. THAT I WAS THE ONE
WHO CALLED YOU TO BE MY
PEOPLE.
THAT I WAS THE ONE WHO HAD
BROUGHT YOU TO
THIS MAGNIFICENT LAND.
AND I SET NOW BEFORE YOU
LIFE AND BLESSINGS.
DEATH AND CURSES.
ONE ...
OR THE OTHER.
LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD
AND YOU WILL HAVE LIFE AND
BLESSINGS.
ANYTHING ELSE
BRINGS DEATH
AND CURSES.
[PAUSE]
SEEMS LIKE A SIMPLE CHOICE,
DOESN'T IT?
SEEMS LIKE A CHOICE THAT WE
WOULD ALL BE
THERE WITH THOSE CHILDREN OF
ISRAEL AT THAT MOMENT
SCREAMING: WE WILL LOVE THE
LORD!
WE ARE GOING TO LOVE THE LORD
AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE HIM
THE TOP PRIORITY IN OUR LIFE.
HE HAS DONE
EVERYTHING FOR US. HE HAS
GIVEN US LIFE.
HE HAS CREATED US. HE HAS MADE
US TO BE
AN UNIQUE INDIVIDUAL.
HE HAS GIVEN US ETERNAL LIFE
THROUGH HIS SON
THAT HE BROUGHT INTO THIS
WORLD TO LIVE FOR US
IN HOLINESS AND PERFECTION IN
OUR PLACE
TO DIE FOR US TO RISE AGAIN
TO ETERNAL LIFE. THAT THOSE
THINGS WOULD BE OURS.
HE IS OUR LIFE!
OF COURSE WE WOULD CHOOSE TO
LOVE
THE LORD!
AND YET WE KNOW
WHAT A STRUGGLE THAT IS WHEN
IT COMES TO
EACH AND EVERY DAY.
IT IS A STRUGGLE
TO LIVE IN THE CHOICE THAT WE
HAVE MADE
TO LOVE GOD. TO GIVE HIM
OUR LIFE. TO SURRENDER OUR
WILL.
TO SURRENDER OUR SELFISHNESS
AND
TO SAY TO HIM: I PUT MY LIFE
IN YOUR HANDS BECAUSE YOU HAVE
PURCHASED AND WON ME FROM SIN,
DEATH
AND THE POWER OF THE DEVIL.
HOW TO OFTEN WE GET IT SO
TURNED AROUND
BECAUSE WE START THINKING:
WHAT CAN GOD DO FOR ME?
WHAT BENEFIT AM I GOING TO
HAVE
AS A CHILD OF GOD? BECAUSE
IF I TRULY AM SOMEONE WHO
KEEPS ALL OF
THE COMMANDMENTS. IF I TRULY
AM THE ONE WHO WALKS
EVERY DAY IN WHAT GOD WANTS ME
TO DO, WHY DO BAD THINGS
HAPPEN TO ME? WHY DO PEOPLE
HIT MY CAR? HOW COME MY CREDIT
CARD
IS THE ONE THAT WAS
COMPROMISED?
HOW COME I HAVE TO GO THROUGH
LIFE WITH THIS SICKNESS OR
THIS ILLNESS? YOU WANT TO COME
BACK
TO GOD EVERY TIME THAT THERE
IS SOMETHING EVIL OR
SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T LIKE
IN OUR LIFE AND
COMPLAIN TO HIM AS IF TO SAY:
I HAVE DONE ALL OF THIS STUFF
FOR YOU AND YOU HAVEN'T
DONE A THING FOR ME.
BECAUSE WE HAVE FORGOTTEN
THE BLESSINGS THAT GOD HAS
DONE.
WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THE BLESSING
THAT
GOD HAS TAKEN US
FROM THE POWER OF SATAN LIVING
AS
ONE OF HIS CHILDREN AND BY
GOD'S MIRACLE
CREATING FAITH IN US.
GIVING US HIS WORD. TO NOURISH
THAT FAITH THAT IS CREATED IN
US. TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE. TO
LEARN MORE
ABOUT WHAT GOD HAS DONE AND TO
CONTINUE TO LEARN
WHAT GOD HAS DONE TO BLESS US.
AND TO LOVE US. AND WHEN WE
SEE
THOSE THINGS, IT IS SUCH A
NATURAL OUTPOURING
OF OUR SPIRIT TO TURN BACK TO
GOD
AND SAY: I ... LOVE ...
YOU! AND LOVING YOU
MEANS THAT I GIVE MY LIFE
TO YOU. THAT I AM THE ONE
WHO WILL WALK IN YOUR WAY.
THAT I MAKE THAT CONSCIOUS
CHOICE
TODAY TO CHOOSE LIFE AND
BLESSINGS.
INSTEAD OF DEATH AND
CURSES.
AND WE KNOW THAT THAT IS NOT
THE EASY ROAD
TO TAKE BECAUSE WE ARE
SINFUL HUMAN BEINGS.
AND IF YOU MISSED THAT THIS
MORNING, THEN I WANT YOU TO
TAKE TIME THIS AFTERNOON AND
REREAD OUR
GOSPEL LESSON. MATTHEW 5:21-37
BECAUSE JESUS IS REALLY CLEAR
WHAT HE MEANS WHEN HE TALKS
ABOUT THE LAW.
SO EASY FOR US IN
SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS TO SAY:
I HAVE NEVER MURDERED ANYONE.
LOOK HOW GOOD I AM.
BUT GOD'S GAVEL COMES DOWN AND
SAYS:
HAVE YOU BEEN ANGRY
WITH YOUR BROTHER OR YOUR
SISTER?
HAVE YOU HAD HATRED FOR
SOMEONE ELSE?
YOU STAND ACCUSED OF THAT
MURDEROUS SPIRIT.
YOU HAVE NOT KEPT THE LAW.
AND JESUS SAID:
IF YOU HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH
SOMEONE ELSE,
AND YOU REMEMBER THAT, GO AND
GET IT SETTLED. THAT'S A HARD
ONE,
ISN'T IT?
BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHO
WE'VE HAD DIFFICULTIES WITH.
IT'S EASIER TO JUST IGNORE IT.
IT'S EASIER TO JUST
NOT THINK ABOUT IT.
HOW MATURE IT IS TO COME TO
THAT PERSON AND SAY:
WE NEED TO SERIOUSLY TALK
AND SOLVE THIS
AS THE CHILDREN OF GOD.
TO MAKE THAT EFFORT. TO TAKE
THAT TIME.
TO DO THAT PART OF WHAT
THE LAW SAYS. JESUS EVEN SAID:
IF SOMEONE IS SUING YOU,
GET IT SETTLED. GET IT SETTLED
RIGHT AT THE BEGINNING. DON'T
WAIT TILL YOU GET INTO COURT
BECAUSE IT COULD BE WORSE FOR
YOU THEN.
BECAUSE IF YOU DO END UP IN
JAIL, YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO PAY EVERY PENNY
ANYWAY.
LIVE AS GOD
WANTS US TO LIVE.
EASY TO SAY: I HAVE NEVER
SLEPT WITH SOMEONE OTHER THAN
MY SPOUSE. BUT GOD'S GAVEL
COMES DOWN
TO YOU AND SAYS: IF YOU 'LOOK'
AT ANOTHER PERSON,
AND LUSTED AFTER THEM IN YOUR
HEART,
YOU HAVE BROKEN THAT
COMMANDMENT.
UNDERSTAND
THAT THAT LAW CONDEMNS US ALL.
IT PUTS US ALL
IN THE NEED OF A SAVIOR.
AND IT IS GOD'S LOVE
THAT PROVIDED THAT SAVIOR.
PROVIDED THAT SUBSTITUTE FOR
US.
THAT ATONING SACRIFICE TO
RETURN US TO GOD.
TO BRING US BACK TO GOD. TO
WASH AWAY
ALL OF OUR SINS IN THE BLOOD
OF CHRIST.
AND WE STAND NOW BEFORE OUR
GOD
IN THAT RIGHTEOUSNESS OF
CHRIST. HOLY!
AND PERFECT! EMPOWERED
BY THE HOLY SPIRIT TO PUT INTO
PRACTICE
WHAT WE KNOW. TO WALK IN GOD'S
COMMAND. TO CHOOSE LIFE
AND BLESSINGS. OR DEATH
AND CURSES.
BUT GOD SAID TO HIS CHILDREN:
KNOW THIS IS NOT AN EASY
CHOICE.
KNOW THAT I'M GOING TO CALL
THE HEAVENS THEMSELVES AND THE
EARTH BELOW
TO BEAR WITNESS TO WHAT YOU
SAY.
TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE
FOR OUR ACTIONS.
TO HOLD US ACCOUNTABLE FOR
LIVING AS HIS CHILDREN.
AND THERE IS THE OTHER
REMINDER TO US THIS MORNING:
THAT WHEN WE MAKE THAT CHOICE,
TO PUT OUR EFFORT AND OUR
STRENGTH
AND OUR SPIRIT'S POWER BEHIND
THAT CHOICE.
TO BE CONCIOUS AND AWARE THAT
EVERY DAY THAT WE WAKE UP IN
THE MORNING
AND SAY: TODAY IS ANOTHER DAY
OF GOD'S GRACE
AND TODAY I LOVE THE LORD!
TODAY I CHOOSE TO LOVE GOD.
TODAY I CHOOSE TO FOLLOW
IN HIS WAY. TODAY I CHOOSE
TO OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS.
TODAY I CHOOSE LIFE
AND THE BLESSINGS THAT COME
WITH IT.
AND I WALK AWAY FROM ANYTHING
THAT
IS NOT GOD. THAT IS NOT A PART
OF GOD. THAT IS
NOT WHAT GOD WANTS ME TO DO.
BECAUSE I KNOW THAT ALL
THAT GOD HAS DONE FOR ME
HE HAS DONE FOR ME OUT OF HIS
LOVE.
AND IT HAS COME TO ME
AND CALMED MY FEARS AND
BROUGHT ME PEACE
AND MADE ME FEEL SECURE IN
KNOWING
THAT I HAVE AN ETERNAL HOME
WHERE I
WILL BE HELD BY GOD
IN HIS ETERNAL LIGHT
BLESSED BY HIM. AND I HAVE NO
OTHER CHOICE.
AND I KNOW THE
CONSEQUENCES AND I KNOW THE
RAMIFICATIONS.
AND YES, BY THE POWER
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
AND WITH HIS AID, I SAY:
TODAY,
I LOVE THE LORD!
AMEN.
LET US RISE.
NOW MAY THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH
GOES BEYOND ALL OF OUR
UNDERSTANDING KEEP YOUR HEARTS
AND YOUR MINDS AND ESPECIALLY
YOUR LIVES IN THE ONE TRUE
FAITH
UNTO LIFE EVERLASTING. AMEN.