The OFFER of LIFE or DEATH (CC)

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.