Participants: Pr. Dwight K. Nelson
Series Code: NP
Program Code: NP101009
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00:27 The Bible declares in Psalms 63:1-4,
00:31 "O, God, You are my God, early will I seek You, 00:33 My soul thirsts for You, My flesh longs for You. 00:37 In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water. 00:40 And so I have looked for You in the sanctuary, 00:42 to see Your power and to see Your glory. 00:46 Because Your loving kindness is better than life, 00:51 my lips shall praise You. 00:52 Thus I will bless You while I live." 00:55 I've come to bless the Lord today 00:57 that my lips might praise Him. 00:58 We're going to sing together, "Praise Him," hymn 249. 01:01 Let's sing with all our hearts this morning. 01:28 Praise Him! Praise Him! 01:32 Jesus, our blessed Redeemer 01:35 Sing, O Earth 01:37 His wonderful love proclaim 01:41 Hail Him! Hail Him! 01:44 Highest archangels in glory 01:47 Strength and honor give to His holy Name 01:53 Like a shepherd 01:56 Jesus will guard His children 02:00 In His arms 02:02 He carries them all day long 02:06 Praise Him! Praise Him! 02:09 Tell of His excellent greatness! 02:12 Praise Him! Praise Him! 02:16 Ever in joyful song! 02:21 Praise Him! Praise Him! 02:24 Jesus, our blessed Redeemer 02:27 Heavenly portals loud with hosannas ring 02:33 Jesus, Savior, reigneth forever and ever 02:39 Crown Him! Crown Him! 02:43 Prophet, and Priest, and King 02:46 Christ is coming! 02:49 Over the world victorious 02:53 Power and glory unto the Lord belong 03:00 Praise Him! Praise Him! 03:03 Tell of His excellent greatness 03:06 Praise Him! Praise Him! 03:09 Ever in joyful song 03:16 Amen. 03:18 We're going to sing this song to all generations. 03:20 I want you just to cry out with your heart to Him 03:23 as we testify our risen Savior. 03:27 All together. 03:29 I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever 03:37 And declare, His, faithfulness in truth 03:44 I will testify 03:45 I will testify 03:48 Of one crucified 03:49 Of one crucified 03:51 And I'll sing His praises 03:53 And I'll sing His praises 03:55 To all generations 03:57 To all generations 04:01 To all generations 04:05 To all generations, we speak 04:12 To all 04:13 To all generations 04:16 To all generations 04:20 To all generations, we sing 04:28 And we sing it all together this morning. 04:30 I will sing of the mercies. 04:32 I will sing of the mercies of 04:36 Beautiful The Lord forever 04:39 And declare 04:40 And declare, His faithfulness in truth 04:46 So with all my heart 04:47 So with all my heart 04:51 And every breath 04:52 And every breath 04:54 I will shout 04:55 I will shout His praises 04:59 To all 05:00 To all generations 05:04 To all generations 05:07 To all generations, we speak 05:14 To all generations 05:19 To all generations 05:23 To all generations, we sing 05:29 One last time all together 05:30 To all generations 05:35 To all generations 05:39 To all generations, we speak 05:44 We declare His love today, to all 05:46 To all generations 05:50 To all generations 05:54 To all generations, we sing 06:02 Can the Church say amen? 06:05 This next song says, "Hallelujah, what a Savior." 06:09 It's a reply to the awesome love of Christ 06:12 and His sacrifice for us. 06:15 Man of Sorrows 06:20 what a name 06:23 For the Son of God who came 06:31 Ruined sinners to reclaim 06:38 Hallelujah! 06:42 What a Savior 06:47 Bearing shame and scoffing rude 06:55 In my place condemned 07:00 He stood 07:03 Sealed my pardon with His blood 07:10 Hallelujah! 07:13 What a Savior 07:20 Let's sing the chorus together 07:22 Hallelujah, hallelujah 07:29 Hallelujah, what a Savior 07:35 Hallelujah 07:37 Hallelujah, hallelujah 07:44 Hallelujah, what a Savior 07:52 Guilty. 07:54 Guilty, vile, and helpless, we 08:01 Spotless Lamb of God was He 08:07 Full atonement 08:08 Full atonement can it be 08:15 Hallelujah! 08:19 What a Savior 08:22 Lifted up 08:24 Lifted up was He to die 08:30 Beautiful church 08:32 It is finished was His cry 08:37 Now in heaven 08:39 Now in heaven exalted high 08:45 Hallelujah! 08:49 What a Savior 08:55 Hallelujah 08:57 Hallelujah, hallelujah 09:04 Hallelujah, what a Savior 09:10 We say it together, hallelujah. 09:12 Hallelujah, hallelujah 09:19 Hallelujah 09:23 What a Savior 09:30 When He comes 09:31 When He comes, our glorious King 09:39 All His ransomed home to bring 09:44 Then anew 09:46 Then anew this song we'll sing 09:52 Hallelujah! 09:56 What a Savior 10:04 Hallelujah, hallelujah 10:11 Hallelujah 10:15 What a Savior 10:17 Hallelujah, hallelujah 10:22 Hallelujah 10:26 Hallelujah 10:30 What a Savior 10:42 Hallelujah 10:47 we sing together 10:49 Under your wings 10:56 Cover me 10:57 Cover me 11:04 Within your mighty hand 11:10 When the oceans rise and thunders roar 11:18 I will soar with you above the storm 11:25 Father You are King over the flood 11:32 I will be still 11:35 And know You are God 11:44 Find rest my soul 11:50 In Christ alone 11:52 In Christ alone 11:58 Know His power 12:00 Know His power 12:06 In quietness and trust 12:10 We'll sing that chorus together 12:12 When the oceans rise and thunders roar 12:19 I will soar with you 12:22 Above the storm 12:26 Father You are King over the flood 12:34 I will be still and know You are God 12:42 The Bible declares in Psalms 46:10, 12:46 "Be still, and know that I am God, 12:48 I will be exalted among the nations, 12:51 and I will be exalted in the earth." 12:57 Let's take this moment to recognize our Creator, 13:02 recognize His sovereign rule in our hearts. 13:07 Find rest my soul 13:13 In Christ 13:15 In Christ alone 13:20 You've got it sing it out 13:21 Know His power 13:23 Know His power 13:30 In quietness and trust 13:36 When the oceans rise and thunders roar 13:43 I will soar with you 13:46 Above the storm 13:50 Father You are King over the flood 13:58 I will be still and know You are God 14:04 When the oceans 14:06 When the oceans rise and thunders roar 14:13 I will soar with you 14:16 Above the storm 14:20 Father You are King over the flood 14:28 I will be still 14:31 And know You are God 14:36 I will be still 14:39 And know 14:43 You are God 15:10 The pilgrims throng thro' the city gates 15:17 While the night is falling fast 15:25 They go to watch on Calvary's hill 15:33 Ere the twilight hours are past 15:40 Though dark be the way 15:45 With eyes of faith 15:49 They gaze on His cross above 15:56 And, lo! From each heart 16:00 The shadows depart 16:04 As they list to His words of love 16:12 As they list 16:14 to His words of love 16:22 Rest, rest to the weary peace 16:30 Peace to the soul 16:34 Tho' life may be dreary 16:40 Earth is not thy goal 16:46 O lay down thy burden 16:52 O come unto Me 16:58 I will not forsake thee 17:04 I will not forsake thee 17:10 I will not forsake thee 17:16 Tho' all else should flee 17:31 Far, far, away 17:34 O'er the dream of years 17:38 They hear 17:40 the voice of the king 17:46 Where, O grave 17:50 Where is thy victory 17:54 And where, 17:56 O death is thy sting? 18:03 Captive He leads them for evermore 18:10 While weary pilgrims 18:15 rejoice 18:19 For looking on high 18:22 to the cross He bore 18:26 The faithful shall hear 18:31 His voice 18:35 The faithful 18:37 shall hear His voice 18:45 Rest, rest to the weary peace 18:53 Peace to the soul 18:57 Tho' life may be dreary 19:03 Earth is not thy goal 19:10 O lay down thy burden 19:16 O come unto Me 19:22 I will not forsake thee 19:27 I will not forsake thee 19:33 I will not forsake thee 19:40 Tho' all else should flee 19:45 Tho' 19:49 all else should flee 20:08 Let's pray. 20:15 Thank You, Father, for speaking that word of hope 20:18 and promise through Sophia. 20:22 Rest and peace from the one who declares, 20:25 "I will never leave you or forsake you." 20:30 Because of that truth, we are here. 20:35 And may the teaching we are about to hear 20:39 confirm to us that You are the God. 20:47 You are the God, we can trust to the very end. 20:53 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. 20:58 Thanks to my two friends Kathy Kudell and Holly Schafer. 21:02 I'm about to introduce to you 21:03 two very new goat friends of mine. 21:08 But before they come out 21:10 and join me here, in the pulpit. 21:14 I want to take a moment with you 21:15 and reflect on this two goat ritual 21:18 that was central to the Day of Atonement celebration. 21:25 Before we reenact that, 21:27 let's read the account in Leviticus. 21:30 Take your Bible out please, Leviticus chapter 16. 21:33 This is the great Yom Kippur chapter, Leviticus 16. 21:37 If you didn't bring a Bible, you need to see this. 21:39 Grab the pew Bible in front of you. 21:41 It will be page 80 in your pew Bible. 21:45 Let's get the settings for this reenactment 21:48 by reading the actual account 21:50 given by God through Moses to the children of Israel. 21:54 Something's in this for Israel. 21:56 Something is in this for you and me. 21:59 We've got to find out what that is. 22:01 Leviticus 16, 22:02 It'll be in the New International version. 22:04 Let's just pick it up. 22:06 Aaron, the high priest, 22:07 is moving through his ritual on this most holy 22:11 and somber day of the religious calendar, all right. 22:15 So it's the Day of Atonement. 22:18 When we get down to verse five, 22:19 notice now what's happening. 22:21 Verse 5 "From the Israelite community he," 22:24 Aaron the high priest, 22:26 "is to take two male goats for a sin offering 22:29 and a ram for a burnt offering." 22:31 Now verse 6, "Aaron is to offer the bull," 22:34 which he's already selected, 22:36 "for his own sin offering to make atonement 22:38 for himself and his household." 22:40 So this is for the priestly community. 22:42 There will be that sacrifice. 22:44 Then verse 7, "He is to take the two goats 22:49 and present them before the lord 22:50 at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting." 22:54 You're picturing it, two goats at the entrance. 22:57 Verse 8, "He is to cast lost 23:02 for the two goats. 23:05 One lot for the Lord 23:06 and the other for the scapegoat." 23:09 We're gonna find out that's a mistranslation. 23:11 We'll get to that in just a moment. 23:13 "Aaron then," verse 9, 23:14 "shall bring the goat whose lot falls to the Lord 23:18 and sacrifice it for a sin offering. 23:20 But the goat chosen by the lot as the scapegoat 23:25 shall be presented alive before the Lord 23:27 to be used for making atonement 23:29 by sending it into the desert as..." 23:31 as the Hebrew actually reads there, 23:33 Azazel, not scapegoat, Azazel. 23:36 We'll unpack that in just a moment. 23:38 So now without further do, 23:40 let's bring these two goats out. 23:43 For which I am very grateful 23:45 they have two lovely professional handlers, 23:50 who are going to bring the goats 23:53 to their designated place on this platform. 23:56 Dr. Holly is a veterinary in our community. 23:58 We take our dog Sadie to her. 24:00 And Professor Kathy 24:01 is in the department of agriculture 24:04 here in the college of technology. 24:07 And they're both goat experts, as you will see. 24:12 All right, ladies, bless you. Two lovely goats. 24:15 Now, folks, we're in Israel. This is the wilderness. 24:20 This is the Day of Atonement. 24:22 The two goats are brought to the entrance, 24:24 to the sanctuary, to the tent of meeting. 24:26 Now the lot must be cast. 24:29 Fascinating how they cast the lot. 24:31 Thank you Horn Archaeological Museum 24:34 for this loaned clay pot. 24:37 This is how they did it. 24:40 Inside the clay pot were two ballots. 24:44 We call them ballots, they're two lots, 24:46 two little pieces of wood. 24:48 Each has been designated, 24:49 one for Yahweh, one for the Lord 24:52 and the other for Azazel, all right. 24:57 So the two lots go in, 24:58 the high priest will not make the selection. 25:01 Oh, I like that color, oh, I like that one. 25:03 No, there is no human choice involved. 25:06 It is designated to be divinely done, all right. 25:09 So Aaron reaches in, he has to, 25:13 he is going to mix up these lots 25:15 to make sure that its fair, 25:16 and then he will remove a lot. 25:18 Now he is going to designate. 25:19 He is going to say, "Okay, I'm drawing a lot 25:20 for this goat," all right. 25:22 He doesn't draw the lot and say, 25:23 "Well, which goat do I want to ply to." 25:24 No, it's for this goat, all right. 25:26 So he reaches in and he pulls it out. 25:29 Ah! This is the goat for the Lord. 25:32 Now here's what happen. 25:33 Once the goat is designated as belonging to the Lord, 25:37 we know now who the other one belongs to. 25:39 A scarlet cord is taken and is wrapped around, 25:46 did you think the goats were going to be docile 25:48 when they came to the sanctuary? 25:50 Not at all, the scarlet cord is wrapped around 25:54 the one which will be slaughtered for the Lord. 26:00 The other scarlet cord is taken to the goat 26:03 that will remain alive and if this one had horns, 26:06 the scarlet chord will be wrapped around the horns. 26:10 It'll remain alive through the entire day. 26:14 Now the scarlet corded one? What's going to happen? 26:18 And by the way, here is where the ritual 26:21 no longer is acted out in public. 26:24 Because the high priest 26:25 will simply reach into his sacred garment 26:27 and remove the knife 26:29 and will slit the throat 26:31 of the goat chosen for the Lord. 26:33 Now here's what's happening. 26:34 Look at the verse 15 in Leviticus 16, 26:38 "He shall then slaughter the goat for the sin offering 26:42 for the people and take its blood..." 26:44 remember goat's blood 26:46 "...take its blood behind the curtain..." 26:49 into the most holy place 26:51 "...and do with it as he did with the bull's blood. 26:53 He shall sprinkle the goat's blood 26:55 on the atonement cover" 26:56 of the ark of the covenant "and in front of it." 26:59 The only day of the year the high priest 27:01 would ever dare to enter the most holy place 27:04 is after the selection has been made, 27:07 the sacrifice has taken place. 27:10 And with the blood of the Lord's goat, 27:13 he steps in to sprinkle and begin the cleansing process 27:17 of withdrawing all the sins that have been 27:20 accumulating through the year. 27:23 You got it so far? 27:25 All right, now there is only one goat left alive. 27:30 What happens to this goat? 27:31 Let's read, let's pick this up, pardon me, verse 20. 27:37 Verse 20 "When Aaron has finished making atonement 27:40 for the Most Holy Place," it's cleansed 27:42 "the Tent of Meeting" that would be the holy place, 27:44 it's cleansed "and the altar of sacrifice" 27:46 it now has blood sprinkled on it 27:48 "he shall bring forward the live goat. 27:54 He is," verse 21, 27:55 "to lay both hands on the head of the live goat 27:58 and confess over it all the wickedness 28:00 and rebellion of the Israelites, 28:01 all their sins and put them on the goat's head. 28:04 He shall send the goat away into the desert 28:06 in the care of a man appointed for the task." 28:09 Finally verse 22 28:10 and "The goat will carry on itself 28:12 all their sins to a solitary place, 28:15 and the man" the assistant 28:16 "shall release it in the dessert." 28:18 So here's the final reenactment. 28:22 When the sins have all been removed 28:25 from the sanctuary, 28:28 the high priest will come to the live goat. 28:30 And this is the only time in the sacred year 28:33 when a two hand leaning takes place, 28:36 usually just one hand but now its two hands. 28:38 And this is the only time in the sacred year, 28:40 when with the hand leaning 28:42 there is a simultaneous confession. 28:44 All the other times the confession happened 28:46 before you brought your animal to the sanctuary. 28:49 But now the hands, 28:51 the two hands will be placed on the live goat. 28:54 And he'll press hard on this goat. 28:56 It'll be the transference of the culpability, 28:59 the blame for all the sins of God's people, 29:03 transferred to the goat that belongs to Azazel. 29:07 Once that transferred has been made, 29:10 the assistant takes that goat out into the wilderness 29:13 where it will subsequently perish alone. 29:18 Two goat ritual, Day of Atonement. 29:22 I'd tell you to give the goats a big hand right now 29:24 but I don't want to get them all excited. 29:26 But I think we ought to give a nice amen 29:28 to their handlers Dr. Holly 29:30 and professor Kathy what do you say? 29:32 How about a nice amen for that job? 29:34 Yeah, very well done. 29:35 Thank you, ladies, God bless you both. 29:38 Yeah, you can clap now 29:39 because the goats can't hear you. 29:47 So what was God doing with the children of Israel? 29:52 What's He saying to you and me, 29:55 who live in the day of atonement of human history? 29:59 What would be there for us? 30:01 Take out your study guide, let's examine some truths 30:05 that are associated with the two goat ritual. 30:07 Take out your study guide it's tucked away 30:09 in your communion bulletin today. 30:10 If you didn't get a study guide, 30:11 we've got friendly ushers 30:12 who are going to do this very fast, 30:14 gentlemen and ladies, please. 30:17 Hold your hand up if you didn't get a study guide 30:20 in your worship bulletin. 30:21 Five truths, you want five, 30:23 we're going to scribble them down right now. 30:25 Up in the balcony overflow right here 30:27 make sure everybody gets a study guide. 30:30 And I want to say those of you 30:31 who are watching our "Two Goat" teaching, 30:33 we're delighted you're here, go to the website. 30:35 Let me give you our website, 30:36 you can get the same study guide. 30:37 I'll put it on the screen for you right now. 30:39 www.pmchurch.tv fascinating two goat ritual. 30:45 What are these lessons we can take away from it? 30:47 This is part six by the way. 30:50 When you come to the teaching, "The Two Goats," 30:52 you'll see study guide there, click on the study guide 30:54 and you'll be able to jot the same lessons down. 30:57 You can reflect on them later 30:59 but let's write them down together. 31:01 All right, five truths 31:03 from the two goat ritual, here we go. 31:05 Truth number one, lesson number one, 31:06 would you jot it down please? 31:08 The two goats do not represent the same person. 31:12 Key point. 31:14 The two goats do not represent the same person. 31:17 You see, the Bible often will use one animal, 31:20 one creature to represent two beings. 31:23 Watch this, keep your pen moving. 31:24 The lion, in the Bible, 31:26 the lion represents both Christ and Satan. 31:31 You go to Revelation chapter 5, 31:32 Jesus, the lamb is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, 31:35 the roaring lion of eternity. 31:37 C. S. Lewis in Narnia, Aslan, see the lion. 31:41 But 1 Peter 5:8, "Beware, your adversary, the devil, 31:45 like a roaring lion prowls about 31:47 seeking whom he may devour." 31:49 One creature, two different representations. 31:51 That's true by the way of the serpent. 31:53 Jot this down as well. 31:54 The serpent first appears in Genesis 3. 31:58 The serpent clearly represents both Satan and Christ. 32:02 Genesis 3, we know who the serpent is. 32:03 Revelation 12:9, 32:05 "That old devil called the serpent" 32:08 we know who he is. 32:09 But when Jesus is alone with Nicodemus 32:11 in that clandestine midnight meeting, He says, 32:13 "As Moses lifted up the serpent, 32:15 I'm going to be lifted up." 32:17 I'm the serpent on Calvary. 32:19 Burying your sins in My very, in My very soul, all right. 32:24 So here we have, clearly, the point 32:27 that just because God uses a creature to represent himself 32:30 does not mean that creature always represents Him. 32:34 In fact, here, 32:36 because one goat represents Christ, 32:38 does it mean therefore, 32:39 the other goat has to represent Him as well? 32:42 In fact, if we take the pattern that we've just seen, 32:44 we would expect one of the beings 32:48 to be the opposite of Christ. 32:49 We would expect one of the beings 32:50 to be the Satan himself. 32:51 All right so that's lesson number one. 32:52 Here we go, lesson number two. 32:54 The goat that was chosen for the Lord symbolized Christ. 32:57 But of course, in this entire series of the temple 33:01 as we've been focusing on the Day of Atonement, 33:02 it has been crystal clear that the cleansing blood 33:04 on the Day of Atonement was the compelling symbol 33:07 for the cleansing blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. 33:10 Behold the Lamb of God 33:11 who takes away the sin of the world. 33:13 There had been no question about that in anybody's mind. 33:15 And in fact, by the way, 33:17 not only on the Day of Atonement, 33:18 all 360 days of the year, that's right, 33:22 their month only had 30 days, 33:23 12 months, 360 days in their year. 33:25 All 360 days, anytime there's blood, 33:28 it's blood symbolizing the mighty Savior of the world, 33:32 the Lord Jesus Christ. 33:36 So Christ is symbolically, 33:40 symbolically represented by the Lord's goat. 33:42 In fact, let's put the-- 33:43 we read this just a moment ago in our scripture. 33:45 Let's put it on the screen. 33:46 Hebrews chapter 9, 33:48 the great Day of Atonement chapter. 33:49 Hebrews 9:22 "In fact, the law requires that 33:54 nearly everything be cleansed with blood, 33:56 and without the shedding of blood 33:58 there is no forgiveness." 33:59 Now lets go back to verse 14 "How much more then" 34:02 how much more than the blood of goats, 34:03 that's what he is saying, "How much more, then, 34:05 will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit 34:09 offered himself unblemished to God." 34:11 Notice what Christ's blood can do. 34:12 It can cleanse you and me, it can cleanse 34:14 "our consciences from acts that lead to death, 34:17 so that we may serve the living God!" 34:21 Christ symbolically represented by the Lord's goat. 34:25 So what about the other goat? 34:29 Who's this Azazel? 34:31 Lesson number three, jot it down please. 34:32 The goat that was chosen for Azazel symbolized Satan. 34:38 Jot it down. Symbolized Satan. 34:42 By the way, this is the only place 34:43 in the entire Hebrew Bible 34:45 which would be the Old Testament, 34:46 where the name or even the word Azazel appears. 34:50 There was a time when scholars 34:52 weren't quite certain over the etymology 34:54 and the identification of this mysterious Azazel. 34:56 But there is growing unanimity now. 35:01 In the very next chapter, in fact, 35:02 if you just turn over to Leviticus 17:7, 35:06 God warns the children of Israel, 35:07 don't offer sacrifices to the goat demons. 35:12 Your new translations will foot note it, goat demons. 35:15 What's going on? 35:16 There's another power counter to God. 35:19 In fact, jot this down in your study guide. 35:21 Leviticus 17:7 suggests that there is a counter goat power 35:25 or a person in opposition to God. 35:28 Who is that being or person? 35:32 Our friend Roy Gane, who wrote the commentary 35:35 for Zondervan, the Leviticus, Numbers, 35:37 Volume of the NIV application commentary. 35:40 This is from his commentary, Roy is writing here. 35:42 He teaches here at the Theological Seminary, 35:46 in the Old Testament department. 35:47 Let's put it up here. These are Roy's words. 35:49 "Once we know that la'aza'zel is the proper name 'Azazel,'" 35:57 by the way the New Revised Standard Version 35:59 correctly translates it, not scapegoat but Azazel. 36:02 "Once we know that, 36:03 that it is referring to a personal being 36:05 other than the Lord," now watch this 36:07 "we automatically rule out the traditional 36:09 mistranslation of Azazel as scapegoat, 36:12 that is the goat that goes away or escapes." 36:15 Roy goes on, "The dynamics of the live goat ritual imply 36:18 that Azazel is the Lord's enemy." 36:22 Now he is quoting from his own book "Altar Call" 36:25 and with very colorful language coming up here now. 36:27 "The Lord directed the Israelites to transport 36:29 their sins on a goat to Azazel, 36:32 who ended up with this noxious load. 36:34 This would be like sending someone 36:36 a truck full of chemical waste or dumping a load of reeking, 36:40 maggot infested chicken manure all over his front lawn. 36:44 Not a friendly gesture. 36:46 Here, Azazel, get a load of this!" 36:51 Somebody is not your friend when they do that to you. 36:53 That's the point. 36:54 Now with that colorful language Roy is describing this goat 37:01 and he puts it this way in another place. 37:02 He calls this goat a ritual garbage truck 37:05 or a permanent moral septic tank. 37:09 Now listen, the point is clear and Roy makes this. 37:12 There is no, now you got to get this, 37:14 there is no substitution taking place with the live goat. 37:20 It is not substituted for Israel, 37:22 it will not die for Israel's sins. 37:24 No, no, no, no, right this down please. 37:26 "Azazel's goat is not the sin bearer, 37:30 not the sin bearer. 37:32 The Lord's goat is the sin bearer." 37:35 You've got to get that point. 37:39 Then what's happening with Azazel's goat? 37:40 Keep writing. 37:42 Azazel's goat is rather 37:44 the final repository of culpability, 37:47 I'll leave the word up there so you can get the spelling. 37:49 Culpability, that means blame. 37:52 This goat is the final repository of culpability 37:57 or ultimate responsibility for all the cleansed 37:59 and forgiven sins of Israel. 38:03 That's what's going on. 38:04 Hey, listen, every now 38:06 and then we read of another bank heist. 38:08 All right, so two accomplices rip off a bank 38:10 somewhere in our community. 38:12 They're taken to court 38:13 but in court it's been discovered 38:16 that there has been an evil mastermind 38:18 from the mafia who directed the entire caper. 38:22 Now are the two accomplices guilty? 38:24 Yes, they are. 38:26 But will not the law also throw 38:28 the book at the evil mastermind, 38:32 who perpetrated the crime behind the accomplices? 38:35 Yes or no? But of course. 38:38 That's what's going on here. 38:39 Azazel is the evil mastermind 38:42 for all evil in the history of the human race. 38:46 And the book will be thrown at Azazel one day, trust me. 38:51 In fact, jot this down, will you please? 38:52 The Day of Atonement dramatically teaches 38:55 that at the end of salvation history, 38:57 "God will place the culpability 38:59 or blame of all the sins of his saved friends," 39:02 by the way, it's just to say friends, 39:04 those that don't want God get to stick with their sins. 39:07 Nobody gets, nobody takes them, 39:10 not even Satan will take them, 39:11 they get their own. 39:13 But God will place, keep reading in that sentence. 39:17 "God will place the culpability 39:18 of all the sins of his saved friends 39:19 back upon the mastermind who caused them," 39:22 write it in, "Satan himself." 39:24 And by the way, please note, see Revelation 20, 39:27 because that's the great chapter of the millennium. 39:30 When the planet will be emptied of human life 39:35 and Azazel himself will have a 1,000 years 39:38 to ponder the fruitage of his rebellion 39:42 against the throne of the temple of God Himself. 39:45 A 1,000 years, 39:47 where the culpability is all coming back. 39:50 I did this all my self. 40:00 The good news is, ladies and gentlemen, 40:01 the Day of Atonement teaches that this sin, 40:04 this noxious, septic sin problem 40:08 will not last forever. 40:12 Hallelujah, God is going to bring it to an end one day. 40:15 Never again will there be sin in this universe. 40:17 Amen. That's the good news. 40:20 Lesson number four, jot it down. 40:22 "At-one-ment," 40:23 because that's what the word atonement is. 40:24 "At-one-ment is both a noun 40:26 and a verb, an act and a process." 40:30 Key point. 40:31 Because you see, the Cross of Christ 40:33 is the finished act of God to secure atonement 40:37 for all who choose Him, 40:38 because ladies and gentlemen, that's what atonement means. 40:40 It means to reconcile, to reunite, 40:44 to restore two parties into at one relationship again. 40:49 Atonement creates two parties and restores them at one. 40:54 Calvary is the act of God in reconciling. 41:02 How does it go, 2nd Corinthians 5:19, 41:04 "God was in Christ, 41:05 reconciling the world to Him" at Calvary. 41:08 He's in Christ, reconcile, at one again. 41:13 But it didn't all end at Calvary, 41:18 it couldn't have. 41:20 Let's say I'm Warren Buffet, don't you wish? 41:24 And let's say I liquidate all my assets 41:27 and equities to the tune of $60 billion, all right. 41:32 So I'm Warren Buffet, 41:33 I now have $ 60 billion in cash. 41:35 You are a banker and I come to you 41:37 and I say, "Question number one, 41:38 would it be all right 41:40 if I put my $60 billion into your bank?" 41:43 What are you going to say to me: 41:45 "But of course, Mr. Buffet." 41:48 And then I ask you a second question, 41:49 "After I've put all my money in you bank, 41:52 would it be all right with you, 41:54 if occasionally I make withdrawals from that amount?" 41:59 And what are you going to say? 42:00 But of course, Mr. Buffet, 42:02 you may take as much as you want. 42:05 It's yours." 42:07 Ladies and gentlemen, 42:08 that's what happened at Calvary. 42:10 God liquidated His entire estate. 42:14 The assets of the treasury of heaven are taken 42:18 and are poured into this salvation atonement. 42:24 And ever since Calvary 42:25 and this is what Hebrews is trying to tell us. 42:28 Ever since Calvary, Christ has been withdrawing 42:32 from that storehouse of divine treasure. 42:36 For every man, woman and child who senses a moral bankruptcy, 42:40 if you're here today and you're saying, 42:41 "You know what, I'm feeling morally bankrupt right now," 42:45 I have some good news for you. 42:46 There is a savior in this universe 42:50 who can withdraw from his infinite treasure 42:54 and pay it in full, what you owe to guilt. 42:59 Pay it in full, hallelujah. What do you say? 43:02 That's the point. 43:04 Now God making the deposit-act, God making withdrawals-process, 43:09 can you see it's both a noun and a verb? 43:12 Atonement is an act and it's also a process. 43:18 So He makes the deposit at Calvary complete act. 43:25 But Hebrews tells us now Jesus 43:26 as our heavenly high priest is mediating, 43:29 withdrawing from the funds to keep you afloat, 43:32 to keep me morally afloat as well. 43:37 And then, when you have the return of Christ 43:40 and the eradication of Satan. 43:43 Then atonement will return to enact one final act, 43:48 securing the universe for ever and ever. 43:50 Amen, ladies and gentlemen let's review it now 43:54 and write this down as we review them, please. 43:55 This is critical for you to understand. 43:58 Number one, "The Cross of Christ is a finished act 44:01 that secures atonement." 44:03 All right, finished, it is finished. 44:06 Jesus cried out, "It is finished." 44:08 Finished act that secures atonement. 44:10 Number two, "The mediation of Christ 44:12 is a continuing process that provides atonement." 44:16 Act, process. 44:18 We're living during the process time right now. 44:20 And finally number three, "The return of Christ 44:22 and the eradication of Satan is the final act 44:26 that completes the atonement." 44:28 Act, process, act. 44:32 Noun, verb, noun. 44:34 And by the way, all three acts 44:37 and phrases of divine atonement centered 44:40 as they are on Christ Jesus. 44:42 Everything centers on Jesus. 44:43 All three are dramatically symbolized in Yom Kippur, 44:48 the Day of Atonement, all three. 44:50 That's why that was such a great day, 44:52 and that's why you and I cannot just blow 44:55 that old dusty antique 44:56 and say it has nothing to do with us. 44:58 It has everything to do with you and me 45:00 because lesson number five, write it down. 45:03 "It's cleansing time." 45:05 Final lesson, lesson number five, 45:07 "It's cleansing time." 45:08 That is a shining truth of the Day of Atonement. 45:11 We are living at this very hour. 45:13 And by the way, may I tell you this? 45:15 You were born, you were born into the Day of Atonement. 45:20 It didn't start after you came along, 45:21 you were born. 45:23 The heavenly judgment has already begun. 45:25 The two minute warning for the human race had sounded 45:29 and now the clock is counting down. 45:32 There's a cleansing going on in the sanctuary about 45:34 cleansing the records in His temple. 45:36 There's a cleansing going on amongst God's people below, 45:39 cleansing their hearts. 45:41 Record of sin, presence of sin, dual cleansing, simultaneously, 45:46 cleansing, cleansing, cleansing is the key. 45:50 Cleansing, it's cleansing time. 45:54 That's why I'm excited about this. 45:57 I should say that's why I'm stirred up about this. 46:00 I fear that some how we might just kind of, 46:04 smile it off and say, 46:07 "I'll get to this, when I'm ready for it." 46:10 The only time you're ready for it is right now. 46:14 You have nothing more than right now. 46:18 Cleansing time. 46:19 Last week, I shared a text with you 46:21 and we've been brooding over it ever since. 46:22 Come to our house of prayer you'll noticed it was front 46:24 and center for us Wednesday night. 46:27 Zechariah 12, I want to end with this text, 46:29 because it doesn't end with verse 10. 46:32 Zechariah 12:10, let me just put that 46:35 verse back up on the screen for you. 46:36 God is making this phenomenal, unbelievable almost promise. 46:41 And I want you to hear it. 46:43 Last week, we only concentrated on that first line of verse 10, 46:45 God speaking, "And I will pour on the house of David 46:48 and the inhabitants of Jerusalem 46:50 a spirit of grace and supplication." 46:53 And we said to ourselves last week 46:54 and I've been saying a whole lot of this to myself, 46:57 "God won't You please give this university, 47:00 give this community, give this congregation, 47:02 a spirit of asking, a spirit of supplication. 47:05 So that we don't just sit on our hands 47:07 and say, "Well what will be will be, 47:09 'que sera sera.'" 47:10 No, we're living, two minute warning. 47:16 Give us the spirit of asking please. 47:18 But we stop, artificially stopped 47:20 the verse last week there. 47:22 Notice how the second half of the verse reads. 47:24 "They will look on me," God says, 47:25 "I'm going to give you the spirit of supplication." 47:26 How? 47:28 "You will look on me, the one they have pierced, 47:32 and they will mourn for him 47:34 as one mourns for an only child, 47:36 and grieve bitterly for him 47:39 as one grieves for a firstborn." 47:41 One of our pastors, just a few weeks ago 47:44 conducted the funeral of a little girl, 47:47 who was killed by her father's car. 47:50 There is no sadder funeral. No sadder funeral. 47:56 You will mourn for me as if you were the cause 48:02 of the one who's pierced and dies. 48:04 You will mourn for me 48:06 as if your sins alone took my life. 48:10 It will finally sink in. I died, for only you. 48:17 Not for the guy beside you right now, for only you. 48:21 Your sins took my life. 48:23 You'll mourn for him as an only child. 48:28 Now if we left it right there, this morning we'd be sad. 48:31 But I got to show you, chapter 13 verse 1 48:34 follows this incredible promise. 48:36 Drop down to 13:1. 48:38 "On that day," here comes the Day of Atonement promise. 48:40 "On that day, a fountain 48:42 will be opened to the house of David." 48:44 Hallelujah. 48:45 "And the inhabitants of Jerusalem, 48:47 to cleanse them from sin and impurity." 48:51 What do you say? 48:52 On that day, when I am lifted up 48:54 and you will look on the one your sins have pierced, 48:56 there will be a fountain, a gushing fountain opened up. 48:59 And that fountain will wash you clean. 49:00 Day of Atonement promise. 49:02 You will be washed clean of your moral impurity. 49:05 You will be washed clean of your sinful stain. 49:07 I will wash you clean. 49:10 It doesn't get any better than that, does it? 49:12 Every sin in your life right now, 49:14 that you're a bit troubled by, 49:16 the good news is there's a fountain 49:17 that's already been opened up 2,000 years ago. 49:20 It's the Day of Atonement fountain opened early, 49:24 to cleanse the human race. 49:26 You could be clean. 49:27 You don't have to carry that stain with you. 49:29 You could be clean. Washed clean. 49:32 Today, when we come to the foot of the Cross, 49:34 I'm telling you don't you go anywhere. 49:35 You stay right here 49:37 because you want that cleansing. 49:39 Today at the foot of the Cross that fountain will be flowing. 49:44 And when you eat the bread and you drink the cup, 49:46 you will take that fountain in you 49:48 and it will be, it will mystically cleanse you 49:52 in the process of celebrating that sacrifice. 49:56 Why wouldn't you want to be cleansed? 49:59 What would you want to skip the cross? 50:03 You skip the cross, 50:04 you skip the only hope you have. 50:11 "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn 50:14 from Immanuel's veins and sinners plunge 50:18 beneath that flood, lose all their guilty stains." 50:22 You know who wrote that song? 50:24 His name is William Cowper, it's spelt 'Cowper.' 50:28 Go on wikipedia. 50:30 I refresh my memory of his life. 50:33 The man was manic depressive. 50:34 Some of you know what that means, 50:36 bipolar, swing to high, swing to low. 50:40 This man, manic depressive, found Jesus Christ 50:46 but when you find Jesus does it mean-- 50:48 It doesn't mean suddenly all the ills go away. 50:51 You still are you. 50:54 And in the midst of his finding the Gospel, 50:59 this William Cowper 51:00 who became a great English poet. 51:03 Three times he attempted suicide. 51:06 Three times he attempted to take his life. 51:08 Twice he ended up in insane asylum, 51:10 as they had in those days. 51:12 He became a friend of John Newton. 51:13 "Amazing Grace," John Newton became a friend of his. 51:17 And in the moments of quiet, when his mind, un-tortured, 51:22 gave him the presence to write, 51:24 he composed this great poem, a 100 poems beside it. 51:28 "There is a fountain filled with blood drawn 51:31 from Immanuel's veins and sinners plunge beneath 51:34 that flood lose all their guilty stains." 51:38 Ladies and gentlemen, 51:39 that's the Day of Atonement promise. 51:41 There's been a fountain that's been open for the earth. 51:45 And you and I today, can step into that fountain 51:47 and lose all our guilty stains. 51:51 Hallelujah. That's why we're here. 51:53 I want to sing that. I want to sing that with you. 51:56 American folk tune has been put to it 51:59 and so we've learned the tune. 52:01 I want to sing this. 52:03 I want to sing the first, second and third 52:05 stanzas of this great composition. 52:07 It's all gonna be on the screen 52:08 so you don't have to look it up. 52:10 We'll put the hymn number up there on the screen 52:12 for you right now, if you want to use the hymnal. 52:13 But the three stanzas are going to be on the screen. 52:16 Let's sing those. 52:18 Let's stand together as we sing. 52:26 And Just sing your heart out, just let this be your testimony 52:29 that today in the fountain you have 52:32 what Jesus has brought you. 52:33 Just let your heart well up as you sing. 52:44 There is a fountain filled with blood 52:51 Drawn from Immanuel's veins 52:57 And sinners plunged beneath that flood 53:03 Lose all their guilty stains 53:09 Lose all their guilty stains 53:16 Lose all their guilty stains 53:22 And sinners plunged beneath that flood 53:28 Lose all their guilty stains 53:36 The dying thief rejoiced to see 53:43 That fountain in his day 53:49 And there may I, though vile as he 53:55 Washed all my sins away 54:02 Washed all my sins away 54:09 Washed all my sins away 54:15 And there may I, though vile as he 54:22 Washed all my sins away 54:31 E'er since by faith, I saw the stream 54:38 Thy flowing wounds supply 54:44 Redeeming love has been my theme 54:51 And shall be till I die 54:57 And shall be till I die 55:04 And shall be till I die 55:11 Redeeming love has been my theme 55:18 And shall be 55:21 till I die 55:28 Oh, God, if that dear friend of Yours tortured in his soul 55:33 could find the hope of the Gospel 55:35 and pour it out in the words we have just sung, 55:39 then the good news must be very good indeed. 55:43 And so we sing at the top of our hearts, 55:45 we sing with all our voices. 55:51 Redeeming love shall be my theme 55:55 and shall be till I die. 55:58 Holy Father, for the fountain 55:59 opened up in Christ, all of us thank You. 56:03 We don't know what to say. 56:04 Thank you is such a pitiful expression 56:07 of the heartfelt gratitude we have 56:09 that we're not stained forever, sin is not staying forever. 56:14 You're going to cleanse us and the universe 56:18 and then forever, with Him who was our lamb. 56:21 O, God, today, 56:24 pour out that fountain and in its stream, 56:29 let us rejoice through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 56:33 Amen. 56:37 It's been a pleasure to be able to worship with you today. 56:39 I hope that the Spirit of Jesus 56:41 has blessed your time with us right here 56:42 in the Pioneer Memorial Church 56:44 on the campus of Andrews University. 56:46 Do you know that around the world, 56:47 people join us every week for this hour of worship? 56:50 We're always looking as a consequence 56:51 for new ways to bridge, 56:53 somehow to connect with these people 56:55 who come here to worship via the telecast. 56:58 One of the areas 56:59 that is quickly growing for us is our website. 57:01 We had more than a 140,000 visitors last year. 57:05 It's an incredible opportunity 57:07 that God has given us to expand His kingdom. 57:10 If you'd like to help partner with us 57:12 as we seek to spread the everlasting gospel, 57:15 I'd love to have you call our toll free number. 57:17 We got very friendly operators standing by. 57:20 Here's the number, 877-His-Will. 57:23 877 and then the two words His Will. 57:25 One of the operators 57:27 will be happy to give you the details 57:28 of how you can partner with this global ministry. 57:31 If you prefer, listen, you can do it all online. 57:33 Go to our website, please. www.pmchurch.tv. 57:38 I'd be honored to have the privilege 57:39 of partnering with you as we seek to spread 57:41 the truth about God for this generation. 57:44 We are living in urgent times. 57:47 Now more than ever, we've got to go to the world 57:50 with the good news entrusted to us. 57:52 So once again, here's that toll free number, 877-His-Will. 57:56 Thank you in advance for your generosity. 57:59 That blesses me and you grow this ministry. 58:02 I pray that the Spirit of Christ 58:03 will abide with you, every step of the way. 58:06 And I hope you come back again next time, right here, 58:09 as we continue our worship journey together. |
Revised 2015-05-21