Introduction

• I John 2:4

Jesus is exclusive

• Luke 13:22-30

• Matthew 7:13-14 – “Are there just a few who will be saved?”

  • Jesus does not sugarcoat the answer!

• This is going to be horrible!

  • Luke 13:25, 28

  • Matthew 13:40, 49-50 – There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

• Lots of people thing they’re with Jesus, but they’re not.

  • Luke 13:26

  • Luke 8:19-21

• There’s something we can do about it.

  • Luke 13:24

  • Luke 6:46

Jesus will not be bullied

• Luke 13:31-33 – This is possibly an invention of the Pharisees. Either way, Jesus was not to be rushed in His work.
• John 19:9-12
• Luke 11:43-46 – Jesus said this out of love: They needed to repent!
• Caveats: Romans 12:18; 13:1; Matthew 5:39

Jesus’ heart is broken by sin

• Luke 13:34
• I Kings 18:4
• Luke 13:35

• Put on … purity (continued)

  • Make no provision for the flesh (continued)

    • Speech

      • Genesis 39:7, 10; Proverbs 2:16; 5:3; 7:5, 21

      • Temptation and sin usually involve inappropriate communication.

      • Cross-reference: David’s sermon from April 26, 2019: Building Loyalty to my Spouse

    • Dress

      • Luke 17:1; I Timothy 2:9-10; I Peter 3:3-4

      • Proverbs 7:10

      • A few resources Christians may find helpful:

        • https://accountable2you.com

        • https://protectyoungeyes.com

        • https://covenanteyes.com

        • https://commonsensemedia.org

        • https://pluggedin.com

        • https://vidangel.com

        • https://try.clearplay.com/home

• Put on … good speech (continued)

  • Develop better attitudes

    • I Peter 3:8-9

    • Colossians 3:8-10; Ephesians 4:15, 22-25; 5:4

• Joshua 3-5

Remember God’s blessings

• Joshua 4:1-7, 23 – God instructed the Israelites to build a memorial to help them to remember how He delivered them.
• I Corinthians 11:23-26

They had

We have

12 stone memorial, etc.

The Lord’s Supper

High priests

Jesus, the Great High Priest

Sacrifices of animals

Sacrifice of the Son of God

Old Covenant

New Covenant

• Hebrews 11:32-40 - Great things happened in the past, but now we can see the full picture.

Teach your kids

• Joshua 4:6, 21-22 – Parents were to teach their children what the memorials meant!

• We tend to forget the past!

• “Don’t forget your raising.”

• Judges 2:6-13 – The generations after Joshua turned to idolatry.

• As parents, we must know about God ourselves.

  • Deuteronomy 6:6-7 – You can’t teach what you don’t know!

• As parents, we must teach our kids about God.

  • Psalms 78:1-8

  • Ephesians 6:4

• As parents, we must live faithfully ourselves.

  • II Timothy 2:15 – Be a worked approved by God.

Rejoice in God’s promises

• Joshua 4:19-20
• Joshua 5:9 – God named the place Gilgal. It was an important place for many future events.
• God delivered Israel to their Promised Land, and He will deliver us to ours! We’ll be in our Gilgal one day.
• II Peter 3:9-13

• Review of last week

  • Beatitudes

    • Purity of heart

    • Peacemakers

• Beatitudes, continued

  • Persecution – rejoice (Matthew 5:10-12), continued

    • We have to display evidence of our faith in our life.

    • Persecution generally causes God’s message to spread, even if some people initially shrink with fear. Those who persecute eventually come to naught.

    • Heaven is the ultimate reward for withstanding persecution.

  • Salt and light – remember who you are! (Matthew 5:13-16)

    • Salt of the earth

      • Salt enhances flavor and is necessary for life.

    • Light on a hill

      • When you are a light in the darkness, people will see you.

      • Light NOT under a bushel.

        • I Thessalonians 1:6-7

        • I Timothy 4:12

        • Titus 2:7-8

  • Righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees (Matthew 5:17-20)

    • Followed the form

      • Not just as written

      • Falsely interpreted – Matthew 15:2-20

      • Neglected foundations of the law

  • Roots of murder (Matthew 5:21-26)

    • Attitudes

    • Practical advice

      • Worship vs. anger

      • Ephesians 4:26

    • Progression: anger, contempt, hatred

      • Murder’s mileposts

      • I John 3:15

The basic, root structure of our relationship with God

• Leviticus 26:12
• Genesis 17:7-9 – This relationship was part of the covenant with Abraham.
• Leviticus 20:26; 26:12 – God’s desire for a relationship with His people
• Jeremiah 24:7; 31:33 – what God continues to want from His people
• Revelation 21:3 – In the end, God ultimately desires the same relationship as in the beginning.

Relationship

• It takes two. Each participant has roles and responsibilities.
• God’s part: I will be their God.
• Our part: They shall be my people.

God’s promises

• God has always honored His responsibilities.

  • Genesis 2 – Adam and Eve

  • Genesis 6:13-8:29

  • Leviticus 20:24

  • John 6:40

  • John 6:35

• God has always honored His responsibilities by providing instruction on how to gain the provisions He promised.

  • Genesis 2:16-17

  • Genesis 6

  • Acts 2:38; Mark 16:16; Romans 6:4

  • God tells us how to maintain our relationships with Him.

  • I Timothy 1:17; Deuteronomy 33:27 – God is eternal and unchanging.

• God has always honored His responsibilities by giving His very best.

  • God made the ultimate sacrifice for us when He gave His only begotten Son to die for us.

  • James 3:16

  • Hebrews 10:8-16

But do we honor our responsibility of “being His people?”

• John 14:15 – Abide in His love.

• Matthew 22:36-37 – the greatest commandment

• Romans 8:14 – We are the sons of God.

• We must love God’s instruction, the truth of His Word.

  • Truth sets us free. John 8:32

  • Malachi 2:8 – Do not depart from the truth of God’s message.

  • Romans 1:28-32

  • Hebrews 4:12-13

• We must give God our best!

  • God expects our best. Malachi 1:7-8, 12-13

  • We must give the sacrifice of worship, praise, ourselves (Hebrews 13:15-16), and in our very living (Romans 12:1-2).

  • We cannot expect to receive God’s blessings if we are not participating in the relationship.

  • Matthew 6:33

  • We must give our best by teaching our children to love and serve God. Deuteronomy 6:4-12

  • III John 1:4

“I will be their God and they will be my people.”

• God is always the same. His expectations have never changed.