WEBVTT 00:00:32.890 --> 00:00:48.890 The Hebrew writer in chapter eleven verse one says, Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 00:00:50.810 --> 00:00:55.849 If you've been around me for a little while, you'll know that I like movies. 00:00:56.090 --> 00:00:57.769 I'm a movie guy. 00:00:58.489 --> 00:01:01.289 Uh I like series of movies. 00:01:01.450 --> 00:01:05.449 I like the I like the Indiana Jones series, for example. 00:01:05.689 --> 00:01:10.490 I saw Raiders of the Lost start 12 times when I was 12 years old. 00:01:11.049 --> 00:01:12.650 I like the movie. 00:01:14.329 --> 00:01:20.250 There's another movie within that trilogy called Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. 00:01:21.449 --> 00:01:25.289 And I don't want to be spoiler here, but it's been out for like 40 years, all right? 00:01:25.449 --> 00:01:27.289 So you've had your chance. 00:01:27.930 --> 00:01:52.169 But there's a part in that movie when, if you remember, his father, who's played by Sean Connery, you know, Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones, and and his father uh has been shot, and and he has to retrieve the grail, as the the legend and and myth you know says, that that if you you pour water upon uh the wound, it would heal, it would save his father. 00:01:52.250 --> 00:02:02.889 But you know, Indiana Jones is it has to go through all of these different booby traps and and ways that you're gonna get killed, and and he's seen that because the the the grail is protected. 00:02:03.129 --> 00:02:10.889 Well, he comes to a point where he sees this great chasm, if you remember, if you've seen it, and there's no way he's gonna clear that. 00:02:11.770 --> 00:02:18.250 He can't get a running start fast enough to propel him from one side to the other. 00:02:18.409 --> 00:02:26.650 And if you remember, when when he gets there, he says it's a leap of faith. 00:02:27.210 --> 00:02:29.210 He can't work it out in his mind. 00:02:29.370 --> 00:02:34.330 He can't reason how to negotiate this obstacle. 00:02:34.569 --> 00:02:45.129 And so when he says it's a leap of faith, his father, bleeding to death, is saying to himself, only the only only the the penitent man can cross. 00:02:45.370 --> 00:02:57.289 And so Indiana Jones, you remember, he reaches down, picks up some dust, and he throws it out in front of him in what appears to be a great chasm, but actually is an optical illusion. 00:02:57.449 --> 00:03:00.409 Again, I hate to be a spoiler here, but it has been out forever. 00:03:00.650 --> 00:03:09.449 Okay, that where you see a bridge that goes across, but you can't see it because it's an optical illusion. 00:03:09.769 --> 00:03:19.609 Again, the Hebrew writer says faith is being sure of what is hoped for and certain of what we do not see. 00:03:19.689 --> 00:03:28.889 Now, you may be asking yourself, David, why did you go off on this rabbit trail about Indiana Jones and the last crusade and this, you know, this thing you can't see and whatnot? 00:03:29.049 --> 00:03:30.250 It's a leap of faith. 00:03:30.489 --> 00:03:38.810 Folks, the second commandment really is about what the Hebrew writer said, if you really stop and think about it. 00:03:38.969 --> 00:03:44.810 Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. 00:03:45.929 --> 00:03:55.689 God says in the second commandment, you shall not make a graven image or idol for yourself to worship. 00:03:56.650 --> 00:04:01.209 Because you can't trust in me because you can't see me. 00:04:01.609 --> 00:04:05.370 So you've got to make something for yourself that you can trust in. 00:04:05.929 --> 00:04:08.650 And that never happens today, does it? 00:04:09.530 --> 00:04:11.609 This has modern application. 00:04:11.849 --> 00:04:15.370 And we're gonna dig deeper into the second commandment this morning. 00:04:15.449 --> 00:04:21.930 But before we do, I would ask that you join me in prayer this morning and invite the Spirit to bless our message. 00:04:22.090 --> 00:04:23.689 Let's pray together. 00:04:24.569 --> 00:04:32.250 Father God, we thank you for your love and your many blessings, the greatest of which is Jesus. 00:04:34.730 --> 00:04:45.050 I can't imagine what it would be like to allow your son to go through that, through all that he went through. 00:04:45.370 --> 00:04:47.530 And that's just what we can comprehend. 00:04:50.650 --> 00:04:53.129 Jesus, thank you for going to the cross for us. 00:04:53.210 --> 00:04:56.810 You didn't have to do it, but you did. 00:04:58.330 --> 00:05:00.170 You did it because you love us. 00:05:01.610 --> 00:05:10.090 We hope that our worship to this point has been pleasing and acceptable to you, Lord. 00:05:11.050 --> 00:05:25.850 Spirit, I pray that you're you would be very powerful in our message this morning, that you will speak powerfully, that you will use me as your flawed vessel to communicate a flawless message. 00:05:26.490 --> 00:05:28.810 Speak to our hearts and our minds this morning. 00:05:28.890 --> 00:05:32.650 Help us to have a deeper understanding of the second commandment. 00:05:32.730 --> 00:05:38.490 Help us to get beyond uh what so many people struggle with in this. 00:05:38.650 --> 00:05:41.689 It's like, well, we we learned all that in VBS, didn't we? 00:05:41.850 --> 00:05:43.450 Well, no, not exactly. 00:05:44.010 --> 00:05:45.689 There's more to it than that. 00:05:46.410 --> 00:05:50.090 And so I pray that this message is an encouragement to us all. 00:05:50.890 --> 00:05:55.770 Lord, we love you so much and we thank you for all that you do for us. 00:05:56.650 --> 00:06:04.490 We worship you and we praise you as the one true and living God, and we offer this prayer together in the name of Jesus. 00:06:05.129 --> 00:06:05.770 Amen. 00:06:07.050 --> 00:06:08.250 Hideyoshi. 00:06:08.410 --> 00:06:11.050 Anybody ever heard of a guy named Hideyoshi? 00:06:11.370 --> 00:06:12.650 I didn't think so. 00:06:13.129 --> 00:06:29.850 Hideyoshi was a Japanese warlord who ruled over Japan in the late 1500s, and he commissioned a colossal statue of Buddha for a shrine in Kyoto. 00:06:31.050 --> 00:06:37.850 And it took 50,000 men five years to build it. 00:06:38.810 --> 00:06:51.850 But the work had scarcely begun when an earthquake in 1596 brought the roof down in that shrine and totally wrecked the statue of Buddha that he had commissioned. 00:06:52.890 --> 00:07:06.330 And in a rage, Hideyoshi shot an arrow into what was left of the fallen statue, saying these words, I put you here at great expense, and you can't even look after your own temple. 00:07:08.970 --> 00:07:13.930 This morning we're going to continue in our series from the Ten Commandments. 00:07:14.730 --> 00:07:23.930 And last week we we took a closer look at the first commandment, which says, You shall have no other gods before me. 00:07:25.450 --> 00:07:34.090 And what we learned was that God wants us to place nothing in our life before Him. 00:07:36.170 --> 00:07:47.210 No thing, no one should have more influence in your life and my life than the Lord does. 00:07:48.569 --> 00:07:56.490 And family, anything that does, anything that does has become an idol in our life. 00:07:58.090 --> 00:08:02.810 Today, in the second commandment, God gives us some additional guidance. 00:08:02.970 --> 00:08:16.569 And so not only does he command not to worship other gods, but we can also see that he encourages us to worship the one true God in the proper way. 00:08:17.530 --> 00:08:27.370 And so when we look at the second commandment, it's very clearly stated in our scripture reading this morning in Exodus chapter 20, verses 4 through 6. 00:08:27.689 --> 00:08:36.730 God says, You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or the earth beneath, or in the waters below. 00:08:36.889 --> 00:09:01.929 You shall not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation, for those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 00:09:02.569 --> 00:09:18.969 Church, when we consider the second commandment in light of the first commandment, which says, You shall have no other gods before me, what we see is that God isn't just telling you and me to avoid idols. 00:09:19.129 --> 00:09:37.209 He is also telling us to avoid anything that hinders our worship of the one true God, specifically a visual representation of Him that causes us to limit him in any way. 00:09:38.649 --> 00:09:43.769 Now, on the surface, that may not seem like a big deal to a lot of people. 00:09:44.250 --> 00:09:49.929 On the surface, it may appear that God is overstating something minor. 00:09:51.049 --> 00:09:54.329 But we need to consider why this is so important. 00:09:55.209 --> 00:10:09.610 First, when we compartmentalize God into an image or into an icon or into a statue, we have disrespected God and we have disregarded God's glory. 00:10:11.209 --> 00:10:14.969 And we have an example of this very thing happening. 00:10:15.849 --> 00:10:17.370 And God's reaction to it. 00:10:17.529 --> 00:10:35.929 Oddly enough, when Moses was up on Sinai receiving the commandments from God, specifically the commandment against it, if you remember, while Moses was on the mountain on Mount Sinai with God receiving the commandments, the people grew restless. 00:10:36.250 --> 00:10:40.490 And they convinced Aaron to make for them a God. 00:10:41.449 --> 00:10:43.289 A God for themselves. 00:10:43.370 --> 00:10:50.409 So Aaron took the gold and he took the jewelry from everyone, he melted it down and he formed a golden calf. 00:10:50.569 --> 00:10:52.569 And everybody's familiar with this story. 00:10:52.730 --> 00:10:56.169 We learned this way, way back in VBS, right? 00:10:58.730 --> 00:11:07.370 Church, there's many possibilities as to why Aaron made a golden calf. 00:11:07.449 --> 00:11:09.049 Why did he choose that? 00:11:09.209 --> 00:11:11.449 There's a lot of animals that God created. 00:11:11.610 --> 00:11:17.849 There's all kinds of things that he could have formed into a God, but why did he choose a golden calf? 00:11:18.009 --> 00:11:21.289 I don't know if you've ever asked that question before. 00:11:21.689 --> 00:11:23.689 Maybe that's all he could make. 00:11:24.490 --> 00:11:25.689 Maybe that was his special. 00:11:26.009 --> 00:11:26.329 I don't know. 00:11:26.409 --> 00:11:27.689 Maybe that's where his talent was. 00:11:27.769 --> 00:11:30.889 If you asked Devin to draw a picture, guess what? 00:11:31.049 --> 00:11:32.969 My specialty is stick people. 00:11:34.329 --> 00:11:40.889 And so you're going to go get the best stick people I got if you're going to ask me to draw a picture or something. 00:11:41.449 --> 00:11:43.209 Maybe it was all that he could make. 00:11:43.370 --> 00:11:44.089 But you know what? 00:11:44.169 --> 00:11:49.769 It's widely believed that he chose one of the gods of Egypt to make. 00:11:50.809 --> 00:11:52.409 Now, why would he do that? 00:11:52.569 --> 00:11:54.490 I mean, they just walked out of there. 00:11:54.649 --> 00:11:56.730 They just left slavery. 00:11:57.049 --> 00:11:59.209 And now they're talking about going back. 00:12:00.409 --> 00:12:04.250 And so why would he make a golden calf? 00:12:04.490 --> 00:12:15.610 So that if the Israelites returned to Egypt, they might be shown mercy because a God of Egypt that Egypt recognized would go before them. 00:12:19.769 --> 00:12:25.129 But in this case, let's give Aaron the benefit of the doubt. 00:12:25.769 --> 00:12:36.490 Some believe the God of Israel was associated with or pictured as a calf or a bull. 00:12:38.969 --> 00:12:48.409 They say that this resulted through the process of religious assimilation or syncretism, which is a blending of religions together. 00:12:48.569 --> 00:12:57.049 And so what a lot of people say is that the Israelites, during their 400 years of captivity, they took Jehovah, whom they could not see. 00:12:57.209 --> 00:13:01.610 Remember, now faith is being sure of what we hope for, certain of what we do not see. 00:13:02.089 --> 00:13:17.449 During that 400 years of hard slavery, they took Jehovah and they blended him with a recognizable visual God of Egypt, and they created a blended God for themselves. 00:13:20.250 --> 00:13:25.689 A God that would have been accepted in the polytheistic culture of Egypt. 00:13:27.289 --> 00:13:30.250 So let's assume that's the case. 00:13:31.370 --> 00:13:37.689 And this golden calf, in their minds, is a visual representation of God. 00:13:39.289 --> 00:13:42.009 Family, God still has a problem with that. 00:13:43.449 --> 00:13:59.449 Even though this was a visual image of strength and power that was recognized in the world and in their culture, and their attention very well may have been very sincere in doing so. 00:14:00.490 --> 00:14:05.129 But here's the deal: God is still offended by it. 00:14:06.169 --> 00:14:13.929 And the reason being because he has been limited by being reduced to an image. 00:14:14.250 --> 00:14:16.569 He has been compartmentalized. 00:14:17.049 --> 00:14:19.370 He has been stereotyped. 00:14:20.329 --> 00:14:22.409 Church, let me tell you something. 00:14:23.289 --> 00:14:26.649 Images and stereotypes are dangerous. 00:14:27.129 --> 00:14:32.089 And the reason why is because they diminish reality. 00:14:33.049 --> 00:14:35.849 They diminish what reality is. 00:14:36.889 --> 00:14:42.169 And there's all types, all kinds of false stereotypes out there. 00:14:42.730 --> 00:14:49.689 For example, the farmer who only works two months out of the year at harvest time. 00:14:51.370 --> 00:14:52.250 Or the teacher. 00:14:52.490 --> 00:14:54.250 We have any teachers in here? 00:14:54.730 --> 00:14:56.089 Okay, we got a few. 00:14:56.250 --> 00:14:58.089 Here's another false stereotype. 00:14:58.169 --> 00:14:59.849 Teachers, man, they got it made. 00:14:59.929 --> 00:15:01.370 They got it so easy. 00:15:01.610 --> 00:15:09.769 I mean, they only work nine months out of the year, and they teach the same stuff over and over and over again. 00:15:10.089 --> 00:15:12.250 And it's just, it's easy. 00:15:12.809 --> 00:15:15.449 They get a state retirement, they get a pension. 00:15:15.610 --> 00:15:18.409 I mean, it's just it's just too simple. 00:15:18.649 --> 00:15:20.329 False stereotype. 00:15:21.370 --> 00:15:30.889 How about the factory worker who gets paid an awesome wage for doing mindless repetitive work? 00:15:32.889 --> 00:15:34.889 That's a false stereotype. 00:15:35.129 --> 00:15:36.250 Completely false. 00:15:36.490 --> 00:15:41.129 Or my personal favorite, the preacher who only works one day a week. 00:15:41.529 --> 00:15:44.409 Now that is completely and totally false. 00:15:44.649 --> 00:15:48.889 If you count Wednesday night, that's two days a week. 00:15:49.610 --> 00:15:51.849 I just want to put that out there right now. 00:15:52.089 --> 00:15:54.089 That is a false stereotype. 00:15:54.329 --> 00:15:57.689 And I've been silent for too long, but I digress. 00:15:59.209 --> 00:16:18.969 Church, all of these are false stereotypes that are offensive because they give false or an incomplete picture of the truth by compartmentalizing someone or something into far less than what they really are. 00:16:20.649 --> 00:16:28.809 And so when we picture God as some earthly form, church, we do the same thing. 00:16:30.169 --> 00:16:35.610 We compartmentalize him into something less than he really is. 00:16:36.329 --> 00:16:39.849 And this is offensive to God. 00:16:42.490 --> 00:16:44.409 And so here's the thing. 00:16:45.209 --> 00:16:56.250 When people do this, we not only compartmentalize God, we not only put him in a box, but we also mislead people when we do so. 00:16:59.129 --> 00:17:19.289 Going back to Aaron, even if he was trying the best that he could to appease the people with an image of God, as the people began bowing down to it, their association with this being God was reinforced. 00:17:19.529 --> 00:17:21.610 Aaron was misleading them. 00:17:23.210 --> 00:17:43.609 Family, when you stop and think about that logically, just step away from it and start thinking about it logically, it is arrogant and ignorant to think that you can create something with your own hands, that you can think up something, create something with your own hands, and then bow down to it as your creator. 00:17:44.569 --> 00:17:46.409 That even makes sense. 00:17:46.649 --> 00:17:48.730 That's oxymoronic. 00:17:49.529 --> 00:17:52.649 But people did it, and people still do it. 00:17:54.170 --> 00:17:58.809 However, the reality is that people do it all the time. 00:18:00.329 --> 00:18:04.409 People pray to statues, people pray to icons. 00:18:05.369 --> 00:18:13.129 And in most world religions, that is exactly what happens, and in a lot of Christian denominations and religions, it still happens. 00:18:15.210 --> 00:18:22.329 And so their prayers can't come from the love and creativity of their own hearts. 00:18:22.490 --> 00:18:26.009 They have to come from an approved liturgy. 00:18:27.049 --> 00:18:28.569 The right words. 00:18:30.730 --> 00:18:32.569 From somebody else. 00:18:35.049 --> 00:18:36.089 Let me ask you a question. 00:18:36.170 --> 00:18:38.490 Have you ever had a ever had a good luck charm? 00:18:38.809 --> 00:18:40.889 Anybody ever had a good luck charm? 00:18:41.529 --> 00:18:42.170 It's okay. 00:18:42.250 --> 00:18:43.450 You can admit it. 00:18:44.569 --> 00:18:54.730 I remember my senior year in high school, I received a four-leaf clover from one of the cheerleaders at the first pep rally of the first season. 00:18:55.369 --> 00:18:57.289 First game of the season, my senior year. 00:18:57.450 --> 00:19:02.889 So I took that four-leaf clover and I put it in my right football cleat, my right shoe. 00:19:03.769 --> 00:19:11.849 And that night, that game that we played, I rushed for nearly a hundred yards and had scored a touchdown that game. 00:19:12.170 --> 00:19:13.849 I was pretty cool. 00:19:15.210 --> 00:19:17.049 But here's the thing. 00:19:20.889 --> 00:19:29.609 The next game, after we'd won the first three, after we won the first three, I lost the four-leaf clover. 00:19:32.089 --> 00:19:37.129 Man, I was having a great season until I lost the four-leaf clover. 00:19:38.889 --> 00:19:42.089 Devin was a running fool at running back. 00:19:43.690 --> 00:19:45.849 And then I lost the four-leaf clover. 00:19:47.609 --> 00:19:54.490 The next game, we got blown out at homecoming by the number five team in the state. 00:19:55.849 --> 00:20:02.730 We'd won the first three games of that season, and then I lost that four-leaf clover. 00:20:04.809 --> 00:20:11.769 And after we lost that first game, we lost every other district game except one for the rest of the season. 00:20:13.450 --> 00:20:17.450 Now, a superstitious person would say, Well, that's pretty simple, man. 00:20:17.529 --> 00:20:19.129 You lost the four-leaf clover. 00:20:19.210 --> 00:20:20.569 Why'd you do that? 00:20:22.409 --> 00:20:25.450 That's why you only won one game after that. 00:20:26.649 --> 00:20:28.170 But here's the reality. 00:20:28.409 --> 00:20:36.170 The reality is that our first three games were cupcake games against much weaker opponents. 00:20:36.970 --> 00:20:40.089 Because our coach knew that we didn't stand a chance. 00:20:41.049 --> 00:20:49.609 He knew we didn't stand a chance because we had just moved up that year into the toughest 6A division in Texas high school football. 00:20:50.009 --> 00:20:55.930 Four out of the ten games we played were against top ten teams in 6A in the state. 00:20:56.569 --> 00:20:57.849 We didn't have a chance. 00:21:00.649 --> 00:21:11.769 Church, we've all viewed lifeless things as if they have some mysterious power to one degree or another. 00:21:14.970 --> 00:21:16.490 So it's not a stretch. 00:21:16.569 --> 00:21:24.970 It's really not a stretch to think that we can begin to view symbols of God as if they were God. 00:21:28.409 --> 00:21:30.329 And this is dangerous. 00:21:31.049 --> 00:21:32.809 Very dangerous. 00:21:34.329 --> 00:21:41.450 But does that command, family, does that command apply only to physical, tangible idols? 00:21:42.730 --> 00:21:46.329 Could it not also apply to our thoughts as well? 00:21:46.490 --> 00:21:48.490 Let me ask you another question. 00:21:48.889 --> 00:21:51.129 What is your image of God? 00:21:54.490 --> 00:21:56.250 What is your image of God? 00:21:56.409 --> 00:21:59.930 You know, I'm sure people have asked you that question before. 00:22:01.609 --> 00:22:06.409 And when we're asked that question, what image of God comes into your mind? 00:22:08.009 --> 00:22:11.529 Some like to think of God as the great architect. 00:22:12.409 --> 00:22:20.730 My father, my grandfather, my brother, a few uncles, they were all, they were all Masons. 00:22:21.210 --> 00:22:24.009 In their mind, God is the great architect. 00:22:25.129 --> 00:22:31.049 Some think of him as a judge, while others don't really like. 00:22:31.450 --> 00:22:35.450 Like to think of him as a judge for obvious reasons. 00:22:35.769 --> 00:22:40.089 Others, then the most popular belief is this. 00:22:40.329 --> 00:22:47.049 Others like to think of him as a father or a grandfather with long white hair and a long white beard. 00:22:49.210 --> 00:22:58.009 Church, regardless of what our vision of God is in our mind, that's exactly what it is. 00:22:58.649 --> 00:23:00.009 It's a vision. 00:23:02.170 --> 00:23:10.569 It's a vision that we have compartmentalized God into. 00:23:11.690 --> 00:23:13.129 It's a box. 00:23:14.970 --> 00:23:26.649 It's a box that the finite limits of our mind have put the Almighty, unlimited, infinite God into. 00:23:28.250 --> 00:23:34.889 And when we do that, God is not happy about it. 00:23:36.889 --> 00:23:38.649 And can you see why? 00:23:41.690 --> 00:23:46.409 Church, I realize that this is nearly impossible not to do. 00:23:46.569 --> 00:24:01.210 There's something about us that wants to have something that we can grasp, something that we can go to as our image and understanding of who God is and what God looks like. 00:24:03.849 --> 00:24:09.049 And when we share that vision with someone else, we we mislead them. 00:24:11.609 --> 00:24:16.490 And to having a false and limited understanding of God as well. 00:24:25.529 --> 00:24:28.009 Did that image originate with you? 00:24:29.289 --> 00:24:31.769 Or did it come from someone else? 00:24:32.170 --> 00:24:35.930 Or something else that you saw? 00:24:37.049 --> 00:24:41.690 Church, the point is simple, but it's still very important. 00:24:43.609 --> 00:24:55.849 If we're going to have an accurate understanding of God, then we have to learn and we have to lean on what God Himself tells us in His Word about Himself. 00:24:58.490 --> 00:25:00.889 Why should we obey the second commandment? 00:25:01.049 --> 00:25:02.409 People will ask that question. 00:25:02.649 --> 00:25:04.730 Why should we obey the second commandment? 00:25:04.970 --> 00:25:07.450 Because God is a jealous God. 00:25:10.250 --> 00:25:13.529 He says so himself in verse 5. 00:25:13.769 --> 00:25:17.609 He says, For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God. 00:25:18.329 --> 00:25:20.409 Now take a good look at that. 00:25:22.809 --> 00:25:26.490 That's reason enough to obey the second commandment right there. 00:25:28.329 --> 00:25:29.450 But you know what? 00:25:29.609 --> 00:25:38.329 As you look at that, in light of that, family, these words surprise us just a little bit, don't they? 00:25:38.889 --> 00:25:42.409 God says, I am a jealous God. 00:25:45.129 --> 00:25:52.409 I mean, the idea of God being jealous is something that we kind of have a hard time wrapping our head around, isn't it? 00:25:54.889 --> 00:25:57.450 I mean, think about that for just a moment. 00:25:59.369 --> 00:26:06.889 The reason why we have a hard time with that is because we think of jealousy in a certain way. 00:26:07.049 --> 00:26:12.730 When we think of jealousy, it's almost always, it's always in a negative connotation. 00:26:13.849 --> 00:26:17.849 To us, to be jealous means to be suspicious. 00:26:18.009 --> 00:26:20.649 It means to be distrustful. 00:26:22.170 --> 00:26:28.409 But when applied to the Lord, family, who is incapable of these things, right? 00:26:29.450 --> 00:26:43.769 Because he is flawless, the word jealous in the Lord's case, family, what that reveals is the intensity of the emotion that he has for us. 00:26:46.649 --> 00:26:58.409 So when we give the attention, when we give the praise, when we give the worship and adoration that God deserves without limit, without limiting him. 00:27:01.129 --> 00:27:11.369 When we give all of those things that he deserves to someone or something else, he is offended. 00:27:13.769 --> 00:27:19.049 Church, God's jealousy isn't fueled by petty insecurity like ours is. 00:27:20.009 --> 00:27:28.730 God's jealousy is fueled by the eternal flame of the love that He has for you and for me. 00:27:29.609 --> 00:27:37.049 If jealousy can be used in a possible context, God uses it as such. 00:27:37.529 --> 00:27:48.889 When he says, I am a jealous God, I am intense in my love for you, I am intense in my forgiveness, in my protection of you as my child. 00:27:50.009 --> 00:27:55.289 I can't think of that word being used in a positive context anywhere else. 00:27:58.490 --> 00:28:01.930 Family, it's so important to obey this commandment. 00:28:03.769 --> 00:28:13.289 Because not obeying it, according to God Himself, results in negative consequences for our children. 00:28:14.329 --> 00:28:19.210 If you're a parent this morning, your ears should be perking up. 00:28:21.609 --> 00:28:24.730 Look at what God says in the latter half of verses five and six. 00:28:24.809 --> 00:28:40.970 He says, I, the Lord, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generations, to those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. 00:28:41.210 --> 00:28:45.849 Church, these words should trouble most people. 00:28:49.609 --> 00:28:56.329 Because on the surface, it appears that God intends to punish our children for our sins. 00:28:56.730 --> 00:29:07.930 And when we think about that, about God punishing my son or my daughter for my sons, my sins, the very idea of that seems completely and totally unfair. 00:29:10.409 --> 00:29:20.089 To make things more complicated, Ezekiel chapter 18, if you're familiar with it, tells us that God will not punish the child for the sins of their father. 00:29:23.369 --> 00:29:28.329 So people will ask, does the scripture contradict itself? 00:29:29.210 --> 00:29:30.809 The short answer is no. 00:29:31.049 --> 00:29:32.569 It never does. 00:29:34.889 --> 00:29:41.769 But here's the thing Ezekiel chapter 18 gives a deeper explanation regarding this issue. 00:29:43.369 --> 00:30:01.369 So, church, one rule of biblical study that we must never forget is that you always interpret the brief passage, the small passage on any given subject in consideration of the passage that's more extensive on the same subject. 00:30:03.529 --> 00:30:14.490 And the nuts and bolts of Ezekiel chapter 18 says that God punishes those who follow the example of their sinful fathers. 00:30:14.889 --> 00:30:20.409 But those who turn away from that example and follow the Lord will be blessed. 00:30:22.649 --> 00:30:25.450 Family, that's why our example of faith is so important. 00:30:25.690 --> 00:30:38.730 Mom, dad, your example of faith is extremely important because if we are disobedient, then our children will most likely follow our example of disobedience. 00:30:39.769 --> 00:30:42.009 So let's apply this rationale. 00:30:42.409 --> 00:30:44.170 Let's make application. 00:30:45.289 --> 00:30:55.849 If our children see us living a superficial faith, family, they learn to view faith as being insignificant. 00:30:57.369 --> 00:31:07.129 If our children see us living a faith focused on experience, then our children will seek experiences rather than God. 00:31:09.049 --> 00:31:21.769 If our children see us bowing and worshiping representations of God, then our children will come to the conclusion that that representation of God is God. 00:31:24.250 --> 00:31:34.970 And if our children grow up in a home where worship isn't a priority, then our children will seldom exercise that option in their life. 00:31:36.730 --> 00:31:47.369 If our children grow up in a home where faith is separate and apart from daily life and daily decisions, let me tell you what happens. 00:31:47.690 --> 00:31:51.609 Our children conclude that faith is irrelevant. 00:31:51.930 --> 00:31:57.690 If faith is only something that they see on Sunday morning, you got problems. 00:31:58.490 --> 00:32:02.009 And your children are going to have bigger problems. 00:32:05.769 --> 00:32:12.649 Church, with this in mind, we can clearly see that God's word is true. 00:32:14.170 --> 00:32:28.329 He will punish the children of those who disobey him to the third and fourth generations because they walk in the light of their parents' example. 00:32:32.250 --> 00:32:39.529 You know, our children may or may not listen to what we say, but I can guarantee you this. 00:32:50.490 --> 00:32:53.609 Church, something we must realize is that God doesn't leave it there. 00:32:53.769 --> 00:32:55.129 Man, that's the good part. 00:32:55.369 --> 00:32:56.809 This is the good part. 00:32:57.129 --> 00:32:58.809 God doesn't leave it there. 00:32:59.049 --> 00:33:15.210 He goes on to say that those who are faithful will bring blessings to their children for a thousand generations by giving them a good biblical example to follow. 00:33:17.529 --> 00:33:21.049 So, church, which generation describes you? 00:33:24.490 --> 00:33:29.210 Which example describes your family this morning? 00:33:31.369 --> 00:33:44.170 Are you in a situation where you're the leader of your home or you're a parent in your home and you know that as a family you haven't been as dedicated as you need to be? 00:33:44.649 --> 00:33:57.529 Maybe there's something in your life that has taken God off of that pedestal where he should be as the top priority, and you've placed something else there. 00:33:59.690 --> 00:34:01.529 Don't beat yourself up over it. 00:34:01.690 --> 00:34:04.889 It's not uncommon, but it is dangerous. 00:34:05.210 --> 00:34:07.849 And the thing about it is you know that it is. 00:34:08.250 --> 00:34:09.769 You know that you can do better. 00:34:09.930 --> 00:34:14.889 We all can do better, but you know that you need to put God first. 00:34:16.490 --> 00:34:18.889 Today's the opportunity to do that. 00:34:19.210 --> 00:34:22.250 Now that doesn't mean that you have to walk the aisle. 00:34:22.490 --> 00:34:28.730 Okay, a hundred, a little over a hundred years ago, walking the aisle at the end of a sermon was unheard of. 00:34:29.769 --> 00:34:32.409 Invitation song, they didn't have one. 00:34:32.889 --> 00:34:39.210 What happened was sermon was over, and if you needed to talk to the preacher, you talked to him afterwards. 00:34:39.529 --> 00:34:42.409 You didn't have to do that in front of everybody. 00:34:44.090 --> 00:34:47.369 The point I'm making is if you need to do it, do it. 00:34:48.730 --> 00:34:50.090 Find a shepherd. 00:34:50.329 --> 00:34:51.289 Find me. 00:34:51.529 --> 00:34:52.809 We're not going to judge you. 00:34:52.889 --> 00:34:53.769 We're going to love you. 00:34:53.929 --> 00:34:55.929 We're going to pray with you, we're going to pray for you. 00:34:56.090 --> 00:34:58.489 Because we struggle with the same things. 00:34:58.889 --> 00:35:00.809 We're just human too. 00:35:01.289 --> 00:35:07.769 And so the shepherds are going to be up front to welcome you if you're ready to walk the aisle and start over. 00:35:08.250 --> 00:35:18.329 Maybe starting over for you is confessing Jesus as Lord, putting your life behind you that you've lived, and starting a new walk with Jesus today. 00:35:18.489 --> 00:35:19.690 That's your choice. 00:35:19.929 --> 00:35:22.650 And everything's ready for you to make that choice. 00:35:23.050 --> 00:35:24.489 Are you ready? 00:35:25.610 --> 00:35:34.009 And again, if you need to come back to the Lord, you need to rededicate your life to the Lord, this is a great opportunity to do it. 00:35:34.250 --> 00:35:37.449 Just follow what the Spirit is saying to you in your heart. 00:35:37.690 --> 00:35:44.889 If you're looking for a place to call home as far as church goes, we'd love you to have you here at Central as a part of our church family. 00:35:45.050 --> 00:35:51.449 Whatever you need this morning, whatever burden you're hauling around, man, unload it. 00:35:51.690 --> 00:35:52.329 Unload it. 00:35:52.409 --> 00:35:54.570 Don't carry it any further than you have to. 00:35:54.809 --> 00:35:56.570 Respond as the Spirit calls while we stick.