Comfort and Joy

Welcome to the radio ministry of clear future and hinders our goal is to make Christ visible Clearview is a place of genuine worship with ministries for all age groups and all people.

For more information, visit us at 3485 Oxford Rd. in Henderson for visit us online@clearviewbc.org now join us for this week's message by Pastor Otto model Christmas series.

Believing is seeing sounds backwards instead of seeing is believing the premise of the series is that if you want to see Jesus. You have to believe in him first and then you begin to see him everywhere with theirs in Scripture or in history or in personal life or in this church. If you say wow what a scene first and then I will believe you'll never see him in this series we have taken the words of Christ. Jesus gave us a clue to find him in Scripture. He made a simple statement in John chapter 5, you said Moses wrote about me now in this series we have examined two passages where Moses wrote about Christ and this morning we got a look at another one and the message is called comfort and joy. So if you have your Bible with you turn to Deuteronomy chapter 18.

Now Moses is saying these words, the Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from your midst from your brethren him, you shall hear, according to all you desired of the Lord your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, let me not here again the voice of the Lord my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.

And the Lord said to me what they have spoken is good.

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brethren and will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

Everyone has a favorite Christmas Carol when my favorite ones is this one God rest you Merry gentlemen now people misunderstand what this Carol really means. This is not about a bunch of Merry gentlemen meeting to take time and rest okay what it really is. There should be a, between Mary and gentlemen, so should be, God rest you Mary gentlemen that still doesn't help doesn't. What is that mean God rest Ye Merry gentlemen, who are these gentlemen who need to rest. Mary, let's look at those words for a brief moment the first one that we need to understand is the word rest rest is not in the sense of sleep or take it easy.

Rest means to ski or stay just like rest assured the second word that needs to be explained is the word Mary which we know means joyful God keep you joyful know who are these gentlemen they're not some Victorian men and top hats. That was a generic way of saying people.

So really, though translation should be God keep you joyful people. Why should God keep you joyful people well the whole song tells us that nothing you dismay remember Christ our Savior was born on Christmas day.

The reason people everywhere can be calm and be joyful is because Jesus Christ is born and why is that so important well the song goes on to say, to save us all from Satan's power when we were gone astray over tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy over tidings of comfort and joy. I love that song. It is beautiful.

We can have comfort and joy because Christ has come, because the Savior is born, but I suggest a correction. There's one tiny bit of problem in that Saul and the problem is this Jesus did not come to save us from Satan's power.

Would you like to know who he came to save us from from God's power. He did not come to set us free from Satan's power. He came to protect us from God's holy power before we try to understand what all that really means and how you can really have comfort and joy. Let me ask you a few questions. What emotions come to your mind when you think about the coming of Jesus Christ does his coming really bring comfort and joy to you. Do you understand why Jesus really came into this world. Do you understand what it means that he is now the mediator between God and us. He is that she will that stands between the holiness of God and the sinfulness of human beings, we ask another question which I ask every week. Have you ever asked Jesus to be your mediator.

You cannot come to God.

He is too holy. He is too righteous you cannot get to him.

You need someone to hold your hand and hold the hand of God. There's only one who could do that and that is Jesus Christ. Are you saved the Scripture talks about bees say by grace through faith, you are say you know what you're being saved from not from Satan's power you are being saved from God's wrath, because if you do not have Christ in your life about how beautiful you are successful you are. You are under the wrath of God this morning in the brief time that we have working to try to understand the biblical reason to have comfort and joy.

So let's begin number one you have to understand the dreadful and aggressive holiness of God. I hope you know about those words. Dreadful means is not something to play with aggressive means it's coming after you. Now the passage we just read from Deuteronomy chapter 18 Moses is making a solemn promise to the people of Israel after his death. God would raise up a prophet for them who would just like Moses be a mediator between God and them know why in the world of the need a mediator because of an incident that Took Pl. in Exodus chapter 19 the people had just left Egypt they had just been freed and they came to Mount Sinai.

You remember that they came to Mount Sinai, and God said to them, it is time for you to meet me face-to-face. Listen to what he said in Exodus 19 starting in verse four God is talking to the people, he said, you have seen Moses. What I have done what I did to the Egyptians, how I bore you on eagles wings, and brought you to myself. Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to me above all people for all the earth is mine. What God said is this, I set you free from Egypt, not just to set you free. But so that you would become my special people. I want you to represent me before the world because everyone is in slavery may not be in Egypt but they are in slavery to sin. I want you to represent me, but he said something else.

Listen to verse six and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The keyword in representing God is holy, the most distinctive attribute of God is his holiness is not love is not truth is not mercy is not compassion, it is holiness that God is holy when you think about the word holy specially for come from a Christian tradition is very easy to misunderstand what is holiness. Holiness. Let me explain to you this way negatively. It is a complete absence of sin negatively. Holiness is complete absence of sins sin, but here something very important positively. It is a passionate desire for righteousness is and where did you get all that from listen to what he says in verse 16 God told him I'm coming down and the way I want to come down. This is going to be up on this mountain called Mount Sinai and I want you to consecrate the people to prepare them because I am holy. They cannot get near me and listen to how God described his this is the the coming as the Bible describes it. There were thunderings and lightnings, and it take cloud on the mountain. Can you picture that God is coming down the holy God is entering into his own unholy creation thunderings and lightnings in a thick cloud on the mountain and the sound of the trumpet was very loud means that the priest were supposed to blow the trumpet but they were so overwhelmed with what was happening around them to begin to blow with everything that how the people respond to so that all the people who were in the camp trembled and Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with Godalming, they ran into the tent is like no you gotta come outside. God wants to meet you and this stood at the foot of the mountain now. Mount Sinai was completely in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire it. Smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace like Mount Vesuvius going up and is a volcano on it is.

It's a tremendous site in the whole mountain quake greatly and when the blast of the trumpet sounded long and became louder and louder. Can you can you picture that again just for a moment, you know, transported back in time and stand in this wide-open wilderness in front of this big mountain covered in smoke and fire, and the noise is deafening. Moses spoke. I don't even know how people knew he spoke and God answered him by voice the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai on the top of the mountain and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain and Moses went up at that point I would've resigned like I'm going up there but I want you here what happens in verse 21 and the Lord said to Moses in the midst of this, God is like. Let's talk Moses as I wait a minute he's is gone down and warned the people as they break through to gaze at the Lord and many of them perish, not just the people who were being foolish, but he also says in verse 22 God says also led the priest who came new year who come near the Lord consecrate themselves less the Lord break out against them how to something break out against you. I can picture an epidemic. They played breaking out against you. How does God break out against you. That's the nature of holiness negatively is the absence of sin positively is a passionate desire to make everything righteous and because we are sinful.

When holiness comes in contact with sinfulness.

You know what's gonna happen. You will explode, implode. I don't know. You will just cease to exist and then listen to what happens, God gives us 10 Commandments God gives his laws and his rituals and everything to the people of the listen to verse 17 of Exodus 24. Listen to those words the side of the glory of the Lord was like a consuming fire on the top of the mountain in the eyes of the children of Israel initially was like cool. We get to see God then was like man does is allow this crazy couple of them wanted to mess with the fire and then Moses came down as they are your have you lost your mind, you will die from this. And then it got worse and worse and worse until they're going this is that we don't like this. This is not fun anymore. God's holiness was unbearable. What you make of the holiness of God. Do you know that's the first attribute of God that is the primary attribute of God that he is holy complete absence of sin and passionate desire for righteousness. Do you understand that being saved means being saved from God's holy wrath. You know without Christ, that same fire is hovering over you, you live. That was in the case.

Jesus didn't have to come if there was another way that you could, you know help the poor, feed the hungry, teach Sunday school and church thing in the choir goal be a missionary.

If there was another way God would have done it. Why did he have to kill somebody. Did you know that Jesus had to die you why because the only way holiness can be satisfied if someone has to die. The message of Christmas is not a baby came in a manger. The message of Christmas is God came to die on the cross for you. Good you can die for yourself. So the first thing we did understand is the dreadful and aggressive holiness of God. But here comes a second all the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes the sound of the trumpet, the mountain smoking smoking and when the people saw it. The tremble in this stood afar off. I'm in the back off and said it was fun. When in Egypt, God was striking the Egyptians and sending plagues upon. That was fun. Parting the Red Sea.

That was fun.

This is not fun. By the way, who told them to stay away. Was it Moses, God did. Isn't God merciful you if I was God. I would have allowed at least three or four of them to turn extra crispy that would quickly send the message to the rest of the crowd that don't get near.

But God said in in in his Holiness is coming down is like way to get them away.

God is holy but he is also merciful solicit what happened in verse 19, the people said to Moses you speak with us and we will hear but let not God speak with us, lest we die. At that moment. If I were God's sake, and I want to be gone so badly.

I would've told the people you don't decide the terms of our communication. I am God.

You're not and you will listen to me.

God is merciful is an you like fine. I will speak to Moses, and Moses will speak to you. That is fine. God is school merciful. He is so amazing and he didn't want them to live in constant fear and so Moses said to the people do not fear for God has come to test you, and that his fear may be before you saw that you may not send some Moses says to them it's okay so the people stood afar off, but Moses drew near the thick darkness where God was. So people stood back. Moses walked in. Moses is now the mediator because of the mercy of God. Do you realize how merciful God is to you. Why didn't he just wipe out the people of Israel. He wanted to. But Moses intervened and said God you can do that is fine. I won't because he is merciful. He is he is kind towards us.

He doesn't give us what we deserve.

Folks call if you look so beautiful again and so accomplished and so happy.

But keep in mind God's holy wrath is against you, but is also his mercy that keeps you from being consumed. But here's number three the future and ultimate promise of God. So this go back to Deuteronomy 18 because that's where we began, the Lord said to me you meaning to Moses what they have spoken is good.

I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among the brethren as long as Moses was living. People knew that Moses would be like the middleman we can get near God is going to kill us. God said okay fine in my mercy I will let Moses to be the go-between.

Moses is looking at his calendar and going man I don't know how many more years I have and people are looking at him and wondering you know Moses has a lot of miles on him.

It's we don't know what's gonna happen to him to the question is coming in their minds what happens once Moses dies. What did God say I will not. Moses is not going to pick God would pick a prophet like you Moses from among their brethren and will put my words in his mouth and he shall speak to them all that I command him.

This is the crux of the message God says to Moses, I know your time is near. But one day I'm gonna pick another prophet who is going to come from the people I would put my words in his mouth and he will speak to the people on my behalf that when God said those words.

He had to intended fulfillments.

The first one was prophets. We know them by name, Isaiah, Jeremiah.Daniel Zechariah met all throughout the Old Testament God raised prophets. They spoke for God. This stood between God and the people they were mediators between God and people. There was another fulfillment. A much deeper longer-lasting 02 milk ultimate fulfillment of that promise one day that God would send the prophet all of these in the Old Testament were simply a prophet.

God said you can have many, but then I'm going to send the prophet and I'm gonna put my words in his mouth and he will become the ultimate mediator means the one who ends all mediators the one God's people were waiting for this prophet is how you know that read the Bible read the Gospels.

In fact, when John the Baptist came the Jewish religious leaders questioned him rent his question the questions they asked him who are you and John said I am not the Christ within the said are you Elijah he said I'm not and then they asked him are you the prophet, and he answered no.

When Jesus fed the 5000, his own disciples said in John 614. This is truly the prophet who is to come into this world.

This is the one were waiting for me. Look who can feed 5000 men plus women and children.

I'm in.

This has to be the ultimate God that Moses promised after seeing his numerous miracles.

Many in the crowd said.

Truly this is the prophet so repeatedly in Jesus's ministry. People were saying. Are you the one because you really are doing the stuff that no one's done before. Are you the one that Moses promised us not only that, but even Jesus himself said, remember when he was people were offended of him. What a Jesus that a prophet is without honor in his own country, even Jesus said the prophet, and how about God putting his words in the mouth of his prophet, did that ever happened with Jesus. Listen to John 716. What did Jesus say my doctrine is not mine but him who sent me.

This is why people have trouble understanding the Bible because we believe in the Trinity where Jesus is also God, then why does he need the word of God in his mouth because he is not only God's son, but he's also fulfilling prophecy that he is also going to be the prophet. John 1249 Jesus said, for I have not spoken on my own authority because the prophet does not speak on his own, but the father who sent me gave me a command.

What I should say and what I should speak is another reference John 17 eight Jesus is praying to his father, he says, for I have given to them the words which you have given me. How did those people know that this is the prophet because they believed in him and to begin to see this and this is the one, but he's also more than a prophet. The whole point is this.

When Jesus said Moses wrote about me. He had Deuteronomy chapter 18 in mind the promise that one day God will send the ultimate prophet who would be the ultimate symbol of comfort and joy to his people that one day just like Moses was the mediator, Jesus would be the ultimate mediator between God and us, but there's something Jesus did for us that Moses could not do. Where were the people at the foot of the mountain where they were there they were far away who went up on the mountain.

Moses the only one who could Jesus did for us that Moses could not do. What did Jesus do for us. Listen to Hebrews chapter 10. Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the holiest by the blood of Jesus, Moses said stay away.

I'm the only one who gets to go.

Jesus said oh no power to handle that. Come on with me.

My blood has covered all your sin. Now, when God sees you he sees me and you are holy because I am holy. When Moses went to the people. He said you consecrate yourself because God is coming on the mountain. Jesus consecrated us. It would consecrate means he purified us through the veil, that is, his flesh means he Moses could not die. But Jesus died in with his blood for ever. He made all his holy and having a high priest over the house of God. What is my job what what what can I do now listen, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, you don't have to go, no I'm not going in full assurance of faith, we can come to the throne of grace, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience means no longer can anyone say, hey, you're not wholly know my heart has been sprinkle from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water in a wire Christmas doesn't bring comfort and joy to people because you don't know a thing about the holiness of God by would you care what would be, why would come for because you think you're good enough but once you realize you cannot get near him, but it's only because of the mercy of God that Jesus died and took his wrath upon himself that now you can come with him into the holy of holies folks that brings comfort and joy. You have to believe that Christ is God's son, who died to save you from the penalty of God's wrath and believing in him you can be forgiven forever unless you do that you never see you go to go about your life you may even call yourself a Christian and I'm not here to pass judgment upon you.

But you may even say I'm a Christian, just as much as he is, because I don't know the Bible. No, because you have never believed in Christ. Question this morning.

Again, this this Christmas really bring comfort and joy to your heart because of it doesn't something is wrong in this morning. You need to give your heart to Christ, so I was a deep message.

I don't quite get it. You don't have to get everything that I said can you not get this much that you can get to God unless you have Jesus, thank you so much for joining us for this message and remember comfort and joy can only come from understanding that God sent his son to die on the cross for your sins. For more information check us out online@clearviewbe.org and for this sermon's notes visit Pastor Shah's blog@avedonshaw.com