Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP090807
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00:37 From the highest of heights
00:39 To the depths of the sea 00:44 Amazing world. 00:46 Creation's revealing Your majesty 00:53 From the colors of Fall 00:56 To the fragrance of Spring 01:01 Ev'ry creature unique in the song that it sings 01:07 All exclaiming 01:09 Indescribable, uncontainable 01:13 You placed the stars in the sky 01:16 And You know them by name 01:19 You are amazing, God 01:25 All powerful. 01:26 All powerful, untamable 01:29 Awestruck we fall to our knees 01:32 As we humbly proclaim 01:35 You are amazing God 01:42 Who has told ev'ry lightning bolt 01:45 Where it should go 01:50 Or seen heavenly storehouses 01:52 Laden with snow? 01:57 Who imagined the sun 02:00 and gives source to its light 02:06 Yet conceals it to bring us the coolness of night? 02:11 None can fathom 02:13 Indescribable, uncontainable 02:17 You placed the stars in the sky 02:19 And You know them by name 02:23 You are amazing, God 02:29 All powerful, untamable 02:33 Awestruck we fall to our knees 02:35 As we humbly proclaim 02:39 You are amazing God 02:45 Indescribable, uncontainable 02:48 You placed the stars in the sky 02:50 And You know them by name 02:54 You are amazing, God 03:00 All powerful, untamable 03:04 Awestruck we fall to our knees 03:06 As we humbly proclaim 03:09 You are amazing God 03:15 You are amazing God 03:17 You are amazing God 03:25 You are amazing God 03:33 Our God is an awesome God 03:38 He reigns from heaven above 03:44 With wisdom, pow'r and love 03:50 Our God is an awesome God 03:56 Our God is an awesome God 04:03 He reigns from heaven above 04:08 With wisdom, pow'r and love 04:14 Our God is an awesome God 04:22 Amen. 04:40 Lord of all creation 04:46 Of water, earth, and sky 04:51 The heavens are Your tabernacle 04:58 Glory to the Lord on high 05:03 God of wonders beyond out galaxy 05:09 You are holy, holy 05:16 The universe declares Your majesty 05:21 You are holy, holy 05:29 Lord of heaven and earth 05:35 Lord of heaven and earth 05:52 Sing together, early in the morning. 05:55 Early in the morning 06:01 I will celebrate the light 06:07 And as I stumble through the darkness 06:13 I will call Your name by night 06:18 God of wonders beyond our galaxy 06:24 You are holy, holy 06:30 The universe declares Your majesty 06:36 You are holy, holy 06:43 Lord of heaven and earth 06:49 Lord of heaven and earth 06:56 Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth 07:02 Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth 07:08 Hallelujah to the Lord of heaven and earth 07:16 Now everyone. 07:37 God of wonders beyond out galaxy 07:43 You are holy, holy 07:49 The universe declares Your majesty 07:54 You are holy, holy 08:01 God of wonders beyond out galaxy 08:06 You are holy, holy 08:14 The universe declares Your majesty 08:19 You are holy, holy 08:27 Lord of heaven and earth 08:35 Lord of heaven and earth 08:45 Holy, holy, holy, 08:52 Lord, God, 08:56 Almighty 09:02 Early in the morning 09:09 Our song 09:11 Shall rise to Thee 09:19 Holy, holy 09:23 Holy 09:28 Merciful 09:31 And mighty 09:37 God in three Persons 09:45 Blessed Trinity 09:52 That stanza one more time. 09:55 Holy, holy 09:59 Holy 10:04 Lord, God, 10:08 Almighty 10:13 Early in the morning 10:21 Our song 10:23 Shall rise to Thee 10:31 Holy, holy 10:36 Holy 10:40 Merciful 10:43 And mighty 10:49 God in three Persons 10:58 Blessed Trinity 11:15 Oh, Father, if somehow 11:19 we could make this moment last and last. 11:25 We know where we are. 11:29 We are in a holy place, in the presence of a Holy God. 11:36 We have been worshipping You. 11:39 We have not stopped. 11:43 In Your mercy and grace would You honor this worship 11:51 by bringing to us a word, 11:55 hush all the voices within us 11:59 and somehow through the majesty of this moment, 12:05 let it be Your voice that speaks to us. 12:10 We want to hear, and we wish to heed 12:15 for the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, amen. 12:25 Our Holy God speaks these words to us. 12:34 "For you our holy people to the Lord your God. 12:43 The Lord your God has chosen you 12:45 to be a people for himself a special treasure 12:50 above all the peoples on the face of this earth. 12:57 The Lord did not said his love on you nor choose you 13:00 because you are in number than any other people, 13:04 for you are the least of all peoples. 13:10 But the Lord is chosen you because the Lord loves you 13:14 and because He would keep the oath 13:16 which He swore to your fathers and mothers. 13:20 The Lord is brought you out with the mighty hand 13:22 and redeemed you from the house of bondage, 13:25 from the hand of Pharaoh King of Egypt. 13:29 Let my people go, 13:32 therefore know that the Lord your God, 13:36 He is God, the faithful God, who keeps His covenant 13:40 and mercy for a thousand generations with those 13:44 who love Him and keep His commandments." 13:53 When you think about being chosen, 13:58 there are probably more than a few of us 14:00 who remember those long ago days... 14:08 during recess... 14:13 on that playground school yard. 14:17 Teachers picked the two biggest guys in class 14:21 and asked them to be the captains. 14:25 Choose up two teams in a sport 14:29 where winning matters and the rest of us... 14:37 we form obediently that line in the playground and we wait. 14:47 One by one the big captains gaze 14:53 over that motley line call a name. 15:02 We nervously are holding our breath 15:07 shifting our way from one sneaker to the other 15:14 and every time a name is called amazingly 15:17 that line gets thinner... 15:22 and you're still in it. 15:25 And in a moment, a painful moment 15:28 that too many of us remember, 15:32 there is that panic thought. 15:36 What if today I don't get chosen? 15:41 What if today I have to stand on the sidelines 15:47 and watch the chosen play their games? 15:51 For some of us that is a painful memory 15:57 'cause nobody wants to not be chosen, 16:01 not in a presidential election 16:03 not with the invitation to a party, 16:06 nobody wants to get left out. 16:09 So what are we gonna do? 16:11 We run smack-dab into the heart of this work chosen. 16:17 How we're gonna handle this? 16:19 Open your Bible with me please, to the book 16:21 that is our new theme book for this brand new journey 16:26 that you and I embarked upon last week together. 16:29 Book of Deuteronomy, 16:30 it's the fifth book of the Bible, 16:32 it's the towering climax to the mighty Pentateuch 16:37 in the Hebrew Bible, the first five books. 16:40 This is Deuteronomy in the Greek 16:42 the name actually means the duet, 16:45 the two, the second law, it's the repeating of the law. 16:50 And the Hebrew the actual name of this book 16:53 is the first words of the book itself, 16:56 these are the words that were written. 17:00 I'm going to the Book of Deuteronomy. 17:04 This is a book that reminds you 17:05 that actually was orally presented 17:07 before it was written. 17:13 It's a farewell address. 17:15 This is the last time He will be with these people. 17:20 I got to remind you, 17:22 those of you that missed last week, 17:23 can we just set the table again. 17:25 The congregation is under the age of 60, 17:28 this vast horde of liberated slaves, 17:32 they are actually children of the liberated slaves, 17:35 under the age of 60. 17:37 They have been wandering this 17:38 burning wilderness for 40 years, 17:41 waiting for every mother and father in that crowd to die 17:44 and become a burial heap. 17:47 And those burning essence they've been waiting for 40-- 17:50 it's only three, three of them older than 60, 17:56 and only two of those three 17:58 will cross over into the promise land. 18:01 You know why? 18:02 I can't explain it to you, it doesn't seem fair to me. 18:06 But if you're a leader listen to me, 18:09 if you're a leader you are held 18:12 to a higher standard than anybody else. 18:17 And just days ago, 18:20 this far from the promise land the leader failed 18:27 and the word is you're not going, boy. 18:31 You're gonna die on that mountain 18:33 and then they'll crossover. 18:35 I know it's not fair but you accepted leadership. 18:40 You accepted the invitation to lead 18:44 and you be now held for the rest of the leadership 18:47 by a higher standard. 18:48 That's just the way it is with God. 18:52 And so they are there longest farewell address in history. 18:56 This is a part of that address. 18:59 I read the words to you just a moment ago 19:00 Deuteronomy Chapter 7, open your Bible 19:03 that the fifth book Deuteronomy Chapter 7. 19:06 If you didn't bring a Bible, you got to follow with this, 19:09 grab the pew Bible in the front of you please, 19:12 same translation I'll be reading 19:13 from the New King James version 19:14 Deuteronomy 7:6. 19:18 Deuteronomy 7:6, Moses, 19:23 seven chapters into this farewell address thundering. 19:27 You know, people have wondered-- 19:28 people have wondered how could one man proclaim 19:33 this farewell address to the thousand-- 19:36 the tens of thousands. 19:38 No PA, no outdoor concert, electronics nothing 19:43 but a man standing on the rock. 19:44 The scholars have come to believe and in fact, 19:46 when it talks about the believers 19:47 there were thousands and leaders over a hundred 19:49 as it does in chapter 1 and leaders over 10, 19:51 that those leaders were spaced all the way 19:53 to the back of that massive congregation 19:56 and when they heard the preacher upfront 19:58 the next wave picked it and said repeat it 20:00 and the next wave and the next wave. 20:03 You think some of the sermons are long here. 20:04 Yeah, you all have to sit through this. 20:09 So Moses crying out the love of his life. 20:12 These are his people. These are his kids. 20:15 Their parents that he grew up with they are gone. 20:17 It's only the kids left and their children 20:19 and some of them even have children. 20:22 So Moses crying out in the words for-- 20:25 on behalf of God verse 6 Deuteronomy 7:6 20:27 "For you" a 120 year old voice thunders 20:32 "For you are a holy people to the Lord your God." 20:38 Just hit the pause button right there, 20:40 because Moses chooses a very strategic word kadosh 20:46 and its root meaning that Hebrew word means 20:47 to be physically separated, 20:49 is to pull something apart from everything like it. 20:52 It's the separated. 20:54 In fact, the book-- the Pentateuch 20:56 the first book of the Bible begins with God declaring, 20:59 I'm going to now kadosh. 21:00 Watch this God says, 21:01 you see this one, two, three, four, five, six, 21:05 I'm now going to kadosh. 21:06 Let's put it on the screen, I'm gonna kadosh. 21:10 I'm gonna pull, the seventh day. 21:13 Physically pull it apart, separated from the rest. 21:17 Identical 24 hours same number of minutes 21:19 but this day now has been kadosh. 21:21 It is mine, not yours. 21:23 I give it to you or I made it for you 21:26 but its mine. 21:27 Divine seal of approval of it because God kadoshed it. 21:31 Some century later, God came along and said 21:33 oh, by the way, when you earn 10 pennies, 21:36 when you earn 10 pennies I'm gonna kadosh. 21:40 I'm gonna take one of those 10 21:41 and I'm just gonna slide it away. 21:45 The one I slide away is mine, it's called the tithe. 21:50 It's not yours, you can't spend it, 21:52 you can't bank it, you can't save it, its mine. 21:57 If you want me to be your chief financial officer, 21:59 you want me to direct your financial affairs 22:02 and trust me boy, trust me girl, 22:04 He says, you need me. 22:06 That kadoshed tithe you return to me 22:09 I'll take good care of you, don't you worry about that. 22:12 The same word God uses now 22:13 when He speaks to this community of liberated slaves. 22:16 He said you know what I'm gonna do? 22:17 You are holy to me, I'm gonna kadosh you. 22:20 I'm gonna separate you from everybody else on earth 22:23 because you are mine. 22:24 You belong to me, 22:26 that's what He is talking about here. 22:28 Verse 6 again "For you are a holy people 22:31 to the Lord your God, the Lord your God 22:33 has chosen you to be a people for Himself, 22:35 a special treasure above all the peoples 22:38 on the face of the earth." 22:41 I tell you what ladies and gentlemen, 22:42 there is not really-- truly, there is not a politically 22:45 correct way to say what Moses just said. 22:48 All he can do is just don't be around the bush 22:50 just blurred it out. 22:52 And that's what he does. 22:53 He's talking to these grown up kids. 22:54 He says, listen to me, listen to me, 22:57 you who grew up on the desert sands you, 23:01 who are the children of the liberated slaves, 23:03 I'm telling you listen carefully to me. 23:05 God has looked at you 23:08 and He said I'm gonna kadosh you. 23:10 I'm gonna make you my special treasure. 23:12 I'm gonna make you my special possession 23:14 and I'm gonna pull you apart 23:15 from every other human being on this planet. 23:19 You children never forget, 23:24 you've been kadoshed by God as it were. 23:29 You know, I got to tell you, that in this day of equality 23:32 and egalitarian fairness it really feels-- 23:36 it really-- it does not feel polite. 23:38 It does not feel proper. 23:39 It does not feel politically correct to say it like that 23:43 but he said it like that. 23:48 So what are we gonna do with this? 23:50 I mean we-- we might as well be honest to admit, 23:53 certainly we can do this 23:55 having read this book once upon a time, 23:57 surely we will admit you cannot escape the fact 24:00 that there is a selection process 24:03 somehow in scripture. 24:04 Let me--let me just show you this. 24:06 I'm gonna run by some of the greatest stories 24:07 of sacred history. 24:08 I'll run them by you call him out. 24:10 Adam and Eve first story on-- on earth. 24:12 Adam and Eve they have two boys 24:13 give me the names of the two boys, two boys. 24:15 What are the two boys names? Cain and Abel. 24:18 Doesn't it happen in that story, 24:20 one boy gets chosen by God 24:22 and the other boy gets rejected? 24:24 Is it that what happens? 24:27 Now, I don't know what's that-- what's up with that? 24:28 I don't know and to the antediluvian world, 24:31 that's the world before the flood. 24:34 In the midst of the antediluvian world 24:36 God finds a husband and a father and a wife. 24:39 And they have three boys, and the boys get married 24:41 so they have three daughters-in-law. 24:43 Noah, isn't that amazing? 24:46 God pulls aside eight human beings 24:50 and the rest let go. 24:54 Isn't that what happened? I mean, what's up with that? 24:57 And then you go over to Iraq, 24:59 today's Iraq go to a place called Ur of the Chaldees 25:01 and there is pagan family 25:02 and then in the midst of that pagan family there is a kid. 25:05 Let me just tell you something, even if your parents, 25:08 even if your brothers and sisters 25:09 do not grow up in the way you are heart is telling you, 25:12 you can grow up in a family that has not accepted God, 25:15 you can grow up in a family and you can become 25:18 a God believer in the midst of a family 25:21 that says we have no time for God in this home. 25:24 Because a boy name Abraham grows up 25:26 and God pick him out of the-- rejects the family says 25:29 I'll take that boy. 25:31 Isn't that the way it happened, ladies and gentlemen? 25:33 There is obviously some kind of selection process going on 25:36 because than Abraham has children. 25:37 He gets a little impatient and so he has-- 25:39 he has a little baby boy by his wife's handmaiden. 25:44 Years later his wife finally has a baby. 25:46 So he has two boys, Ishmael and Isaac. 25:48 How do you explain this? 25:50 One gets chosen and the other chosen to a lesser destiny. 25:53 There is a separation. 25:54 What's happened in here? Isaac grows up. 25:56 Isaac has two boys, one name Esau and Jacob. 25:59 How do you explain this? 26:00 One of the boys is chosen for a lesser destiny 26:03 and the younger is selected. 26:05 What's happening in here? 26:07 By the way Jacob grows up and he doesn't have two boys, 26:09 he has 12 of them. 26:10 And one of them, the next to the youngest 26:12 becomes the deliver of the entire bunch. 26:15 And one day all 11 plus mom and dad 26:17 all bowed down to Joseph. 26:19 Joseph and his 11 brothers, 26:21 one gets chosen and the others not. 26:25 What's going on here? It's a story of sacred history. 26:27 It happens over and over again. 26:29 That little hand full of Jacobs kids 26:31 moves down to a-- to Egypt, 26:34 pagan Egypt two centuries later they becomes slaves 26:39 but Gods rejects the pagan nation 26:41 and He takes this little band of motley. 26:46 What's happening? It's happens all the time. 26:50 They cross into the promise land, 26:51 they finally form a kingdom. 26:53 They chose a king. 26:54 God un-chooses the king and chooses the shepherd boy 26:57 instead, He got Saul and David. 26:58 How do you explain it? God makes some-- 27:00 There's some kind of selection process going on. 27:02 And eventually when the entire kingdom collapses, 27:04 it melts down and God has to reject the majority. 27:07 He still has a minority that He will call the raiment 27:10 and he says these are My chosen now. 27:13 Somehow ladies and gentlemen, it keeps happening. 27:16 You go after exile you finally come back the-- 27:18 the days of glory are over forever 27:21 and then wouldn't you know it 27:22 that's when God decides to show up in person 27:24 and in flesh they called Him Emanuel, 27:26 Jesus of Nazareth. 27:28 And can you believe this, 27:29 the leadership of His nation rejected Him 27:32 but the masses embraced Him. 27:35 And when Jesus arose on that resurrection morning 27:40 they began to emerge a new chosen. 27:42 Not based on DNA, not based on geographical boundaries, 27:46 not based on any temple in Jerusalem a new chosen. 27:49 The fact of the matter is ladies and gentlemen, 27:51 if you want to take all this scriptures seriously, 27:53 we are gonna confront that there is a selection process. 27:56 Throughout sacred history there has been a selection process. 27:59 In fact, that point is so crucial 28:01 I wish you'd right it down right now. 28:03 Would you take out your study guide, please? 28:04 It should be in your worship bulletin today. 28:06 Thank you ushers, for getting on it now. 28:08 Hold those study guides up, 28:10 I want to make sure everybody here gets one. 28:12 Those of you in the balcony, 28:13 all the way to the back of the balcony 28:14 please just hold your hand up. 28:16 A stunning set of parallels 28:17 that we're gonna examine this morning, 28:19 you must examine and ruminate 28:22 over these parallels on your own. 28:24 Take it home, take it home. 28:25 Hold your hand up. 28:26 Everybody get one, I want to say to those of you 28:29 who have joined us right now on television. 28:31 We are so glad that you are here. 28:32 I want to make sure you get the same study guides 28:34 so let me put it on the screen for you right now. 28:36 We put out website there it is 28:38 www.pmchruch.tv that's our website. 28:43 You'll see the series called "The Chosen." 28:46 It's the same logo that you see on the screen 28:48 right now, we'll have that red cue ball 28:50 in the midst of all those white one. 28:52 You click on to The Chosen, this is number two, 28:55 "Why We Are the Most Unique People in Earth." 28:58 By the way, if you weren't here 28:59 watching television or you hear this morning, 29:02 you weren't here last week when the series was launch. 29:04 You have go to please, please for you sake, 29:08 listen to why you are the most unique person on earth. 29:11 You can download the podcast at that web address, 29:14 you can get it. 29:15 Listen to it when you are in leisure. 29:17 That set-- set's up now for part two, 29:20 "Why We Are the Most Unique People on Earth." 29:21 All right, everybody has one? All right, good let's go. 29:26 Let's get our pens moving. 29:27 Let's fill it out right there at the top 29:29 throughout sacred history. 29:31 There it is. 29:32 By the way, you're always looking for the-- 29:34 the yellow words that are underlined. 29:35 That's the word you'll fill in. 29:37 Throughout sacred history 29:38 God has had a community of faith 29:40 that he has identified as "the chosen." 29:44 Fill that in please, the chosen throughout sacred history, 29:47 we just-- we just ran through the story we now know. 29:49 we read this just a moment ago. 29:52 Keep your pen moving, just fill in the words, 29:54 "The Lord your God has chosen you 29:55 to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all." 30:02 You know preacher didn't invent that word, 30:03 Moses didn't invent that word, 30:04 all is the instruction above all people. 30:10 Is this some little passing fancy Moses 30:12 has to get it out of the system 30:13 before the farewell address can end, 30:15 are you kidding? 30:17 Scripture is laced with this theme. 30:19 I want to give you five other annotations 30:21 from Holy Scripture. 30:22 Keep your pen going now. 30:23 Let's get go back to the Book of Exodus, 30:24 God speaking there at the foot of Mount Sinai. 30:27 Exodus 19:5, God says to the people, 30:30 these liberated slaves, 30:31 "You shall be a special treasure to Me 30:34 above all the people." 30:36 God's been saying this for a while. 30:38 Deuteronomy 14:2, it's in your study guide 30:41 but we're gonna put anything there 30:42 because it's the identical, 30:44 its a verbatim repetition of chapter 7, verse 6. 30:47 So let's go on, Deuteronomy 26:18, 30:50 Moses still speaking the farewell address 30:52 beginning to wind down. 30:54 "Today the Lord has proclaimed you to be His special people." 30:59 Chapter 7, special treasure, 31:00 now he calls them special people. 31:03 Is this limited only to Moses? No. 31:04 In fact, let's take the last book of the Old Testament, 31:06 the Book of Malachi. 31:07 Watch this, Malachi 3:17, fill it in. 31:10 God is speaking, "'They shall be Mine,' 31:12 says the Lord of hosts, 'on that day 31:14 that I make them My jewels.'" 31:16 Now I need to tell you that word for jewels 31:18 is the identical Hebrew word for special possession, 31:21 special treasure. 31:22 Only here it's translated to jewels. 31:23 What are jewels? 31:25 That which I hold closely to me because of their great value. 31:29 I'm gonna make you My jewels God says. 31:32 Well, yeah, but this is just an Old Testament idea, 31:34 banished in the New, you're kidding? 31:37 You serious? 31:38 Look at this, 1 Peter 2:9, 31:40 speaking of the Christian church now, watch this. 31:42 Fill it in, "But you" these are pagans 31:46 that are converted to Christianity 31:48 that Peter is writing to, 31:49 "But you are a chosen" now the Greek word here 31:52 is eklektos, from ones comes our word elected. 31:55 So God says, you are elected. 31:57 "You are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, 32:00 a holy nation, His own special," 32:02 Peter grabs that word from the Old Testament says 32:04 it's still true, "His own special people 32:07 who once were not a people but now are the people of God." 32:12 Ladies and gentlemen, keep your pen moving. 32:14 Whether the children of Israel in the Old Testament 32:16 or the church of Christ in the New Testament, 32:18 clearly God throughout sacred history 32:20 has chosen for Himself a people to whom 32:23 and through whom He has revealed the glory 32:27 and truth of His character. 32:29 Case made, end of point. 32:32 So what's that have to do 32:33 the likes of you and me, you say? 32:36 Look it, could it be, could it be 32:38 that Deuteronomy 7:6 is talking about 32:41 the likes of us, could it be? 32:43 You say, what do you mean, the us? 32:45 The us? 32:46 I want to answer that in just a moment. 32:49 This summer during my sabbatical study 32:52 I came across a book written 32:53 in the last century by a writer, 32:56 most of you never even heard of this writer, 32:58 Taylor G. Bunch. 33:00 Came across the book, title of the book 33:01 "Exodus in Type and Antitype." 33:04 I tell you what with a title like that 33:05 who'd even pick up the book up? 33:08 But I did. 33:11 And in that book I came across this intriguing observation. 33:17 It's in your study guide, you have to fill it in. 33:20 Notice what Taylor Bunch is concluding. 33:24 See there in your study guide I put it on the screen for you. 33:26 "The Bible," he writes, "is a book of parallel events 33:29 and movements, of types and their antitypes." 33:32 Hey, timeout, come on preacher, 33:33 what's this types and antitypes stuff? 33:35 Well, it just goes like this, 33:37 did they sacrifice little lambs in the Old Testament, did they? 33:40 Yeah. Did they? 33:41 Did the blood of the lamb ever save them? 33:43 No. 33:44 What was the lamb about? The lamb was a symbol. 33:47 It was a symbol of a much greater fulfillment, 33:49 a greater reality that would come. 33:50 This is the type, this is the antitype. 33:53 The little lamb is the type, 33:54 the lamb of God is the antitype. 33:57 Antitype means a grand fulfillment 33:59 so what Taylor Bunch is saying is hey, 34:01 have you ever noticed the Bible is a book of parallel events 34:03 and movements of types and antitypes? 34:06 "This makes the Bible an up-to-date Book 34:08 from Genesis to Revelation 34:10 to the very close of human history." 34:12 Now here comes the sentence that caught me by surprise. 34:15 "One of the greatest parallels 34:17 is found in what we call the Exodus 34:20 and Advent movement of ancient and modern Israel. 34:24 These are the two greatest religious movements 34:27 in all history." 34:33 Now that is a profound claim to make. 34:36 You understand what did he say? 34:37 There are two parallel movements 34:39 in the course of sacred history. 34:41 Movement number one, the literal children of Israel, 34:44 Exodus out of Egypt and moving to the Promised Land. 34:48 Movement number two, 34:49 the spiritual children of Israel, 34:51 Exodus out of this earth 34:52 and move into the heavenly canon. 34:55 He said there are two movements, 34:57 the greatest movements in the history of this earth. 35:02 And you and I are gonna ask ourselves, 35:04 oh, brother, I mean is this true? 35:05 I mean, two movements, are they really parallel? 35:09 So that if I can understand the first movement, 35:12 I might better live out the last movement, 35:16 is that true? 35:18 You've got a study guide here, I want to now fly them by you, 35:21 fly them by 15 parallels, 15 parallels. 35:26 You're gonna give them have writer's cramp 35:27 you get over it but just keep that pen moving. 35:30 Fifteen parallels between these two 35:32 greatest movements in the history of earth. 35:34 Consider these parables, parallels rather. 35:37 You got number one there, its right in front of you, 35:38 number one, fill it in please. 35:40 Both movements were called to "cross over" 35:42 into the Promised Land. 35:45 Promised Land. Write that down please. 35:48 Parallel number two, 35:49 Both movements were raised up in fulfillment 35:51 of definite time prophecies. 35:53 I put a few verses at the end, one verse for each movement, 35:56 you go home, you brood over, you do the ruminating 35:58 and do the studying afterwards. 36:00 We don't have time to look these out. 36:02 Number two, both raised up 36:04 in fulfillment of definite time prophecies. 36:06 That's a fascinating one, you need to examine it. 36:09 Number three, Both movements were called to champion God 36:11 as Redeemer and Deliverer from human bondage. 36:16 Yvonne Carlo who sang his heart out for us 36:18 "Let My People Go," the punch line 36:22 of that grand spiritual was bondage, 36:26 set my people, in every age 36:28 set my people free from this world's bondage. 36:32 So both movements were called to champion God is a Redeemer. 36:34 Number four, parallel number four, 36:36 Both movements were to journey under the blood of the Lamb 36:39 as a symbol of salvation by faith alone 36:42 in the divine sacrifice. 36:44 Parallel number five, 36:46 both movements were called out of sun worship. 36:49 Exodus 12, God is clear 36:51 I have passed judgment on the gods of Egypt 36:53 and one of those gods is the god Ra, 36:56 the god of the sun. 36:58 He's judged the god of the sun. 36:59 Both of movements were called out of sun worship. 37:02 Parallel number six, 37:03 Both movements were raised up to champion the Law, 37:06 capital W-- that's capital L rather Law. 37:11 See that's why I never got chosen, 37:12 when it is spelling bees, you just leave Dwight, 37:15 just-- we don't want him on our team. 37:18 All right. 37:19 Okay, number six, 37:20 Both were raised up to champion the Law of God. 37:22 Number seven, 37:23 Both were called to restore worship of the Creator God 37:27 through the preservation of his seventh-day Sabbath. 37:32 Write it down. Parallel movements. 37:36 Number eight, 37:37 Both would passionately look forward to the coming Messiah. 37:42 Number nine, Both movements were called 37:44 to reject the fallen, the fallen culture 37:47 and debased religions of the nations around them. 37:50 Number ten, 37:51 Both movements were led by a divinely called prophet. 37:58 Number eleven, 37:59 Both movements were called to adopt a lifestyle and diet 38:02 that would reveal the stunning health differences 38:05 between them and society at large. 38:10 Number twelve, 38:11 Both movements would discover in the sanctuary system 38:14 a defining revelation of God's salvation history 38:18 on earth and in heaven. 38:20 Three more. 38:21 Number thirteen, 38:23 Both movements were to champion the Word of God 38:27 as the authoritative revelation rather of divine truth. 38:31 And by the way Jesus in the wilderness, 38:34 first temptation, 38:35 Jesus in the wilderness goes to our theme book 38:38 and in the face of the tempter 38:39 He says, "Man shall not live by bread alone, 38:41 but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God." 38:44 That's straight of Deuteronomy. 38:47 Both movements were champion the Word of God. 38:49 Number 14, Both movements are called the chosen. 38:52 Revelation 14:12 by the way, you look at it the word saint, 38:57 you'll see the words saints. 38:59 It's the same word for kadosh, 39:00 it means to be physically separated, chosen, set apart. 39:04 And finally number 15, Both movements were-- 39:06 oh, I want you to get this one please. 39:09 Number 15, 39:10 Both movements were capable of failing their mission 39:13 and being replaced by a community of faith 39:17 more faithful and obedient than they. 39:21 Yep, 39:26 there they are ladies and gentlemen, 39:27 one writer calls the two movements 39:31 religious movements in the history of earth. 39:34 And by the way remarkably parallel aren't they? 39:37 Remarkably parallel. What's going on here? 39:42 Write it down, could it be that to better understand 39:47 the divine calling of the second movement, 39:49 it is essential that we note 39:50 the divine leading in the first movement? 39:53 Could it be? 39:55 That Paul writes is precisely the point 39:58 I'm trying to make. 39:59 Paul's making a point. 40:01 Take a look at this, you need to look at in your Bible. 40:03 Last passage we'll look at New Testaments 40:05 1 Corinthians, 1 Corinthians 10, 40:08 take a look at this. 40:09 You thought Taylor G. Bunch invented this 40:12 and the preacher upfront 40:13 is just kind of grasping it straws wrong? 40:16 Somebody long ago said wait a minute, 40:20 two movements one at the beginning 40:23 one at the end, parallel movements-- 40:26 parallel movements. 40:27 1 Corinthians 10 that will page 772 40:31 in your pew Bible, 1 Corinthians Chapter 10. 40:35 Let me find it myself here, 1 Corinthians 10:1 40:39 the apostle Paul writing to the pagans, 40:42 to the pagans in Corinth. 40:44 They've become, the pagans have become a Christian, 40:46 followers of the Lord Jesus Christ. 40:48 He's writing to pagans. 40:49 He's not writing to Jews, 40:50 He is writing to pagans, all right. 40:54 1 Corinthian 10:1 "Moreover, brothers and sisters, 40:57 I do not want you to be unaware that all our," 41:02 isn't that amazing? 41:03 He is writing to a group of converted pagans 41:05 and they said-- he says they're your fathers too, our fathers. 41:08 Paul's a Jew. Our fathers, yours and mine. 41:11 There is some kind of continuity here 41:13 that apparently never gets broken 41:15 between the two movements. 41:17 Watch this "Moreover, brothers and sisters, 41:20 I do not want you to be unaware 41:21 that all our fathers were under the cloud, 41:23 all passed through the sea," 41:24 verse 2 " all were baptized into Moses 41:27 in the cloud and in the sea," 41:28 verse 3 "all ate the same spiritual food," 41:31 verse 4 "and all drank the same spiritual drink. 41:33 For they drank of that spiritual Rock 41:35 that followed them, and that Rock was Christ." 41:38 Verse 5 "But with most of them God was not well pleased, 41:41 for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 41:44 Now these things became our examples, 41:46 to the intent that we should not lust 41:48 after evil things as they also lusted. 41:51 And do not become idolaters as were some of them were." 41:54 Put the pause button right there. 41:56 Do you know why we are in the series? 41:57 Let me just tell you, 41:58 didn't mention this last week to you. 42:00 Do you know why we are in The Chosen? 42:01 Because you ask for it. 42:03 When we surveyed this congregation last spring 42:05 you filled out surveys. 42:06 Pastor, here's what I want you to preach. 42:08 I know noted carefully which ones were college students, 42:10 which ones were community, which ones are faculty. 42:12 You filled out the survey, we are in this series 42:15 because of questions you raised. 42:19 In fact, I want to tell you something, 42:22 I didn't tell first church this but I'll tell you. 42:26 We are coming to four questions that came up over and over 42:29 from students at Andrews University. 42:32 Questions about alcohol, 42:36 sex, dress and the prophet. 42:43 And so starting in October, four sermons in a row. 42:50 Your questions and only in second church 42:53 don't say a word to those who are coming to first. 42:57 Only in second church when the teaching is over, 43:01 I'm standing right here. 43:02 We are throwing open mike and you can ask any question 43:05 you wish about the subject we just covered. 43:10 Not give any speech you wish, 43:13 ask any question you wish and we will wrestle together. 43:17 Come now, let us reason together. 43:20 Paul says the very four questions 43:22 that you have hot on your hearts 43:24 as young adults they're the story 43:26 of the wandering in the wilderness, 43:28 that's why we've gone to The Chosen. 43:29 You asked, we're there. 43:33 That's why Paul says here in the verse 7 43:34 hey, by the way "Do not become idolaters 43:36 as were some of them did. 43:37 As it is written, 'The people sat down 43:38 to eat and drink, and rose up to play.'" 43:41 Verse 8 "Nor let us commit sexual immorality, 43:43 as some of them did, and in one day 43:45 twenty-three thousand fell," well, we go to that story. 43:48 Verse 9 "nor let us tempt Christ, 43:50 as some of them also tempted, 43:51 and were destroyed by serpents," 43:53 serpents have mercy verse 10," nor complain, 43:56 as some of them also complained, 43:57 and were destroyed by the destroyer." 43:59 Here comes the punch line now verse 11," 44:01 Now all these things" in the long ago passed 44:05 "happened to them as examples, 44:07 and they were written for our admonition, 44:10 whose the us upon whom 44:13 the ends of the ages have come." 44:16 Ladies and Gentlemen, what you just read 44:18 is a mighty apostle Paul declaring 44:20 there will be a generation at the end of time 44:22 upon whom the ends of the ages come. 44:24 That generation will need to carefully study a long ago 44:28 wandering in the wilderness 44:29 for out of that story of the first chosen 44:33 there will be truth for the final chosen. 44:35 You'll learn the lessons of a movement long ago 44:39 for a movement that will cross over into the Promise Land. 44:43 Isn't that amazing? 44:45 This isn't Taylor Bunch, this is the apostle Paul. 44:50 One movement came out of Egypt 44:51 and journeyed toward the Promise Land 44:53 the other upon whom the ends of the ages 44:55 have come, though that movement 44:57 and the first movement unbroken thread. 45:02 You saw 15 parallels unbroken thread. 45:10 A century ago another inspired writer wrote 45:12 to the children of the second movements. 45:15 When I came across these words 45:17 I said oh, boy, I'm reading Andrews University 45:21 in these words, a young adult generation. 45:24 Look at this, it's right there in your study guide 45:26 "in many cases the children" I'm thinking of the children. 45:28 You are the children of the moms and dads 45:30 who are dying in wilderness wandering. 45:32 You are the children of the grandparents 45:34 who are already dead and buried. 45:35 You are the children, I'm thinking of you, 45:40 "In many cases the children like you 45:42 are drifting away from the old landmarks." 45:48 What's happening? What's going on? 45:51 "Here are principles that we are 45:53 not to regard with indifference. 45:54 Those who have seen the truth and felt its importance, 45:57 and have had an experience in the things of God, 45:59 are to teach sound doctrine 46:01 to their young, to their children. 46:05 They should make them the young acquainted 46:08 with the great pillars of our faith, 46:10 the reasons why we are called" now hold on, 46:13 "why we are called, as were the children of Israel, 46:15 to be a peculiar people, a holy nation, 46:18 separate and distinct from all other people 46:20 on the face of the earth." 46:24 Now that is a huge, 46:27 huge claim and command. 46:34 The two greatest movements, religious movements in history. 46:38 And let me just talk out heart with you now before I sit down. 46:42 It's my concern, does this generation 46:47 even know that it's chosen? 46:54 Does it? Do you? 46:55 Okay I'm talking to you, do you? 46:57 Do you know? 46:58 You who are the children of us baby boomers, 47:01 do you even know that assuredly, 47:06 has God raised up that movement long ago, 47:09 He has raised up this movement today. 47:12 Do you even know that? 47:15 Does this generation know that this community of faith 47:21 is not just another denomination 47:24 in a smoggiest board of churches today? 47:28 That this movement has been personally ordained, decreed, 47:33 and raised up by God for such a time as this. 47:36 Do you even know that? 47:39 Do you even know it? You do not. 47:42 You haven't been told it in a long, long time. 47:49 And that's why I'm concerned. 47:53 We got a generation, 47:55 I don't know if you realize this 47:57 but we have a generation just as surely 48:00 as you were personally chosen. 48:01 Remember last week, just as surely 48:03 as you have a unique destiny we have a generation 48:06 that has a unique, unique destiny. 48:11 Do you understand that potentially, 48:13 potentially you are the generation 48:19 with the stunning potential of being able 48:22 to lead this movement to cross over 48:28 without seeing death? 48:32 No death. 48:34 Moses died, a whole generations buried. 48:39 But come on guys, someday there will be a generation 48:41 that will be alive and it will not see death. 48:45 It will cross the joy alive. 48:48 Do you understand? You? 48:51 Potentially you or that generation? 48:59 Have you been told that? 49:01 Have you been taught 49:04 that God has given you the potential of being 49:06 the last generation on this earth? 49:07 Do you understand that? 49:10 Look, I have baby boomer colleagues, 49:16 all right, I have baby boomer colleagues 49:20 who get very nervous whenever this portion 49:24 of their forgotten heritage is brought up. 49:30 You know why, and I want to say this, 49:31 I want to-- I want you to know that their motives, all right. 49:37 You know why? 49:38 Because they don't want to offend anybody. 49:41 It's just the way we baby boomers are, 49:42 we just want to make everybody happy. 49:45 They don't want to offend anybody 49:47 and so they have lived their lives trying hard 49:51 to be accepted by the wider Christian community 49:54 and the surrounding world. 49:56 We're just like you, really we are. 50:00 Can we be on your team? Will you chose us? 50:08 For some of them, for some of them 50:10 to speak of an Adventist identity, 50:14 and an Adventist institution 50:16 and an Adventist movement is anathema. 50:19 You will never hear them ever say Adventist. 50:27 Christian not Adventist. 50:34 So come on Dwight, what's the difference? 50:35 Of course, of course that its core soul 50:40 it's Christianity. 50:44 But there is something more. 50:51 Whenever they hear something like, 50:53 something kind of to this coming from a pulpit 50:55 or this pulpit its particular they get nervous 50:58 and start talking to each other. 51:03 After all who wants to be the chosen 51:07 when all you wish to be accepted? 51:13 One of the brightest minds in America today 51:16 I don't agree with him philosophically 51:20 but he made an observation I found it, 51:23 I've written his words on the bottom 51:25 of the page for Deuteronomy 7:6. 51:28 Richard John Neuhaus, 51:29 one of the celebrated intellectuals 51:32 of this generation. 51:35 Richard John Neuhaus the words are in your study guide, 51:37 "God's chosen ones live out the drama 51:41 and destiny of God himself." 51:44 Now listen to this, "It is a fearful thing to be chosen. 51:49 It is as though God enters history 51:52 through his chosen ones." 51:57 He's right, it is a fearful thing to be chosen. 52:03 Two great movements through which 52:06 God has entered history through His chosen ones 52:09 but do our children even know it anymore? 52:15 Do we? 52:23 On the eve if His death 52:24 Jesus looked into the upturn faces of His closest 52:27 and dearest friends on earth, 52:30 and Jesus spoke the words of John 15:16 52:32 Jesus says you know what "You did not choose me," 52:37 you didn't choose me, "but I chose you." 52:44 That of course is the truth about the chosen. 52:46 You choose the one who chooses you. 52:51 Go back to that playground one more movement, 52:54 that-- glorious moment when one of the captains called 52:59 your name and your heart leaped. 53:03 I'll not be left on the sidelines today. 53:05 He chose you but you ain't running up to him, 53:08 you were so excited to be on the team. 53:10 That you said I chose this team. 53:12 Captain, I chose you to be my leader. 53:15 That's just the way it works. 53:17 When you've been chosen 53:19 you choose the one who chooses you. 53:24 God, give us a generation poised 53:28 on the brink of the Promise Land. 53:32 God, raise up for us please a generation 53:38 that knows that in Christ 53:42 this last movement can truly be 53:47 a movement of destiny, unequivocal in your choice, 53:51 unequivocal in our choice of the Lord Jesus. 53:55 God, give us that generation today. 54:02 Let's pray. 54:04 Oh, God, oh, Father, 54:11 what we're gonna do with this it's inescapable. 54:20 Shall we throw our elbows out of joint 54:23 padding ourselves on the back? 54:26 What a tragic mistake the first movement did 54:29 and doing just that. 54:31 We cannot, we dare not. 54:35 But Holy Father, if You've been waiting 54:39 for this generation and I believe You have. 54:45 If You've been calling these young 54:47 and I know You are, oh, God, beginning today 54:52 sow the seeds of that unique destiny 54:57 deep within his mind, deep within her hearts, 55:04 and may she, may he, may we, 55:09 in the humility of the Lord Jesus Christ, 55:13 stand for You in this hour 55:20 for the sake of Your character and Your kingdom 55:26 we pray in Christ name, Amen. 55:32 Before you go I wanted to take one more moment 55:34 and let you know how glad I am you shared this hour of worship 55:37 and Bible teaching with us. 55:38 This is the Pioneer Memorial Church 55:40 and we're on the campus of Andrew's University 55:42 and the series is The Chosen. 55:44 This is a series that has been growing 55:47 and it's burned on my heart and over the last few weeks 55:51 before this new season began. 55:53 And some concentrated prayer time 55:55 I believe the Spirit of God lead me do this series, 55:57 out of the Book of Deuteronomy for this generation 56:00 within our community of faith 56:02 and outside this community of faith. 56:04 I believe both, both communities need to hear 56:08 the compelling Bible truth captured 56:12 in this series called The Chosen. 56:13 So thank you, for joining me 56:15 and all of us as we continue our journey 56:17 deeper and deeper into the heart of this theme. 56:20 Living as you and I do and I'm-- 56:22 I know I'm preaching to the choir now, 56:24 living as we do on the edge of a civilization 56:28 that is surviving through constant upheaval and change. 56:32 I am so grateful and I know you are 56:34 for the bedrock hope we have in Jesus. 56:37 I'm thankful that you and I have been given 56:40 the privilege by God to partner, 56:42 to reach this generation 56:43 the world over through the satellite telecast. 56:45 I don't know how it works, I just know 56:47 that those satellites drop the signals 56:49 and those footprints all over the planet 56:51 are helping disseminate this divine call 56:55 to become a part of The Chosen, 56:56 God's last generation on earth. 56:58 So please, here's what I want you to know, 57:00 I thank God for you in a generous way 57:03 you have partnered with us in the past 57:05 and making New Perceptions possible globally. 57:08 Your tax-deductible gifts 57:10 are been multiplied all across the earth 57:12 I believe for such a time as this. 57:14 Look, would you like to order a copy of today's teaching 57:18 you can order DVD, you get all the PowerPoint, 57:20 everything is there, 57:22 you can share with your friends, 57:23 share with your family. 57:24 I want to just insert this here, 57:26 if you go to our website and we've been 57:27 advertising our website all along the way 57:29 and I'm gonna insert it right here www.pmchurch.tv, 57:33 go to that website you get a podcast of this. 57:35 We have people now subscribing to podcast the world over, 57:39 its time for this message to get out. 57:42 Thank you for your partnership in helping us do that. 57:44 Call one of our friendly operators to toll-free number, 57:46 it won't cost you a penny here in North America, 877-HIS-WILL. 57:50 You call that number, I promise you, 57:53 every penny that you share 57:55 we will invest your generosity in God's mission 57:58 to reach this final generation now. 58:01 Thank you very, very much. 58:03 And be assured, I'm looking forward to seeing you here, 58:06 right here again next time as we continue 58:09 our fascinating journey into The Chosen. 58:13 God bless you. |
Revised 2015-02-26